Mondelez International’s corporate venture arm has made an investment in Los Angeles-based snack brand Final Boss Sour.
In a statement, Final Boss Sour said it has raised $4m in a “strategic funding round” to support its “growing retail footprint”.
The round, which brings the company’s total capital raised to $12m since its 2023 launch, was led by Evolution VC Partners with additional backing from The Angel Group.
Existing investors Melitas Ventures and GFR Fund also participated, it added.
Mondelez confirmed to Just Food it has invested in the snacking firm. However, the Cadbury owner did not divulge the specific financial terms of the deal.
Developed in Science Inc.’s startup studio in Los Angeles, Final Boss Sour positions itself as a gaming-themed “better-for-you” sour snack. It uses dried fruit pieces layered with a sour coating to create the brand’s “signature flavour”, the company said.
The snacking firm said the new investors will support its “continued growth”. The brand will be available at Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, Wegmans and Hy-Vee stores “soon”. Rollouts at Target and 7‑Eleven are planned for “this fall”.
Final Boss Sour co-founder and general manager James Hicks said: “We are the fastest-growing sour snack brand in the country.
“Our customers have shown there is demand for a better sour snack made with real dried fruit instead of artificial gummy candy. We’ve seen that demand translate into high velocity across our early retail tests.
“With this new funding we will expand our retail footprint while continuing to create the bold new flavours and collaborations our fans love.”
In a LinkedIn post, Evolution VC Partners’ Gregg Smith said they were “excited” to have led the capital raise for Final Boss Sour.
“Final Boss Sour has built one of the most engaged communities in consumer packaged goods by combining gaming culture, creator-led marketing, and healthier snacking into a brand consumers genuinely love. In less than three years, the company has generated two-plus billion organic video views, become the largest sour candy brand on TikTok Shop,” he added.
