Sauz Raises $12M, L’Oréal Acquires Medik8, and EatRottens Founding Story
Big moves this week across CPG, skincare, and better-for-you candy and all with a common thread: strong early traction, smart channel expansion, and brand-first thinking.
Let’s break it down.
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Sauz Raises $12M to Scale Next Phase of Growth
LA-based sauce brand Sauz just closed a $12M round led by CAVU Consumer Partners, with participation from Coefficient Capital, Palm Tree Crew, and Strand Equity. They’ll put the capital towards marketing, innovation, and expanding their already-strong retail footprint.
Led by CEO Troy Bonde, Sauz has built a modern pantry brand with restaurant-quality sauces like Hot Honey Marinara, Brown Butter Alfredo, and Summer Lemon Marinara — now in 7,000+ doors across Target, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger.
Why it matters:
- Rapid omnichannel scale → retail, wholesale, and digital
- Positioned for premium pantry staples without premium price tags
- Clean ingredients and elevated flavor driving velocity
Quick Backstory:Winston (co-founder) was one of my very first founder guests on Ecomconnect, back when Sauz was just hitting Target for the first time. Wild to see how far they’ve come.
Deal Snapshot:
- Amount Raised: $12M
- Lead: CAVU Consumer Partners
- Other: Coefficient Capital, Palm Tree Crew, Strand Equity
- Retail: 7,000+ doors
L’Oréal Acquires Medik8 for Reported $1B
L’Oréal is making another strong skincare move — acquiring UK-based Medik8 at a reported ~$1B valuation. Founded by Elliot Isaacs in 2009, Medik8 expects to surpass $115M in sales this year. Inflexion (private equity partner since 2021) will retain a minority stake.
Why it matters:
- Adds clinical skincare to L’Oréal’s fast-growing Luxe division
- Further signals consumer demand for high-end, science-backed skincare
- Big European private equity win (Inflexion holds minority going forward)
Founder Spotlight: EatRotten w/ Michael Fisher
What inspired you to start this brand, and what were the first steps you took to bring it to life?
I grew up obsessed with sour gummy candy because of my older brother — I copied everything he did. As I got older and started paying attention to what I was eating, I cut back on sugar, soda, and candy, but I really missed it. When I looked for better-for-you options, they all tasted like compromises. On top of that, the branding was super health-focused and “clean,” which took the fun out of it. I wanted to create a candy brand that tasted amazing, felt indulgent, and just happened to be better for you. The first steps were about making something I personally wanted as a consumer: a candy that didn’t sacrifice taste and had a super fun, nostalgic brand that stood on its own.
What sets your product apart in a crowded market?
We lead with candy first, better-for-you second. I don’t want people to say, “That’s great for a healthy candy.” I want them to say, “That’s just my favorite candy, period.” We also focus deeply on branding — we’re creating a whole world with characters, humor, and nostalgia, pulling inspiration from things like Garbage Pail Kids and old Nickelodeon. It’s more than just a product; it’s a fun, memorable experience.
What’s been the biggest challenge so far, and how did you overcome it?
Manufacturing has been the biggest challenge by far. Consistently producing a high-quality product at scale, especially as a small, fast-growing brand, takes a lot of work. It took us a long time to find the right partners and get the product exactly right, and I definitely underestimated how hard that would be. But staying focused on making the best possible product was non-negotiable for us, so we kept pushing until we got it right.
How are you approaching growth in these early stages—what channels or strategies are most important to you?
We launched direct-to-consumer first, because it allowed us to move fast, get feedback, and improve quickly. We added Amazon soon after, and about six months later, we started focusing on retail. DTC has been invaluable because we get real-time feedback — through ads, emails, and direct customer reactions — which helps us refine everything much faster than if we’d gone straight to retail.
One year from now, what does success look like for you and the brand?
For us, success means growing our retail footprint. The number one question we get is, “Where can I find you in-store?” Candy is such an impulsive buy, and we know we’re missing a lot of those moments without stronger retail distribution. On top of that, we’re planning to launch one or two new products that combine what our customers are asking for with our own creative spin. If we can deliver on those fronts — more stores, more great products — we’ll be in a really exciting place.
Brands & Tech to Watch
- Yuzu – Personalized print inserts that turn unboxing into a marketing channel → yuzu.so
- Frozen One – Frozen One makes high-protein, low-sugar ice cream that’s both healthy and indulgent → frozen-one.com
That’s it for this week!
If you’ve got a launch, story, or trend you want covered, just hit reply. Always excited to spotlight what’s next.
See you next week!
— Zach
P.S. If you found value in this, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague who's interested in brand building, consumer trends, or the future of retail. And as always, hit reply with any thoughts — I read every message.