Nutrition Capital Network (NCN), San Diego, CA has released its top-15 list of transactions to date in 2013. The list includes mergers and acquisitions, as well as financings, across healthy foods, supplements, healthy retail companies, ingredients and supporting technologies.

“It is very encouraging to see that the strong pace of M&As and financings continues, despite some of the largest, most obvious targets having been picked off in recent years,” said NCN CEO Grant Ferrier. “We are continuing to track strong interest from investors in this space, providing exits for successful category companies and financings for smaller growth companies with relevant consumer and value-chain offerings and meaningful differentiation.”

The health & wellness space is also attracting newly active investors looking to capture growth dollars from health-interested consumers. This year, notable acquirers have included Post Foods, Campbell Soup Corporation and FMC Corporation, in addition to long-active Danone. Also, Boulder Brands and Hain Celestial, two smaller consumer packaged goods companies with a unique focus on health & wellness markets, feature prominently in the NCN Transaction Database.

“Hot categories for target companies this year include foods for babies and children, pet foods, as well as healthy quick-service eating establishments and technologies that enable consumers to make healthy choices,” said Mr. Ferrier. “We see this reflected also in the applicant pool of growth companies wishing to present at this Fall’s NCN Investor Meetings. We have an exciting, diverse line-up including brands that represent the next wave of natural foods, as well as nutrition offerings and new technologies.

NCN is holding its Fall Investor Meeting on Oct, 28-29 in San Francisco, where 20-22 selected growth companies will present to an audience of 50-70 investment groups, representing more than $6 billion in capital. NCN’s annual ingredient- and technology-focused investor meeting follows on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas. With top companies such as Bayer, Danone, DSM, DuPont, Coca-Cola, Hershey’s, Kellogg’s, Pepsi and Unilever among its distinguished Cornerstone Investors, NCN provides an excellent forum for networking, while NCN Principals offer insights into new trends in the nutrition, natural products, and health & wellness industries.

NCN has convened 16 investor meetings since 2007 and has a successful track record of matching entrepreneurs, growth companies and technology innovators with suitable investors, acquirers and strategic partners. Past presenters that have closed significant transactions include Food Should Taste Good, a company acquired by General Mills in February 2012, in addition to Annie’s, Immaculate Baking, Zico and Zhena’s Gypsy Tea. Among all companies who have presented at NCN investor meetings, 53% have found financing or completed a transaction.

NCN invites companies to apply to present their business plans at its two remaining NCN investor meetings in 2013 by applying online (there is no cost for applying) at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/presentNCfall.

More information is available on www.nutritioncapital.com or by contacting Executive Director Mike Dovbish at mdovbish@nutritioncapital.com (415-202-5254).