Latest news with #TTV
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LA Libations founders back Just Ice Tea through new fund
The founders of US soft-drinks incubator LA Libations have invested in US firm Just Ice Tea through their new fund Taste Tomorrow Ventures. LA Libations founders Danny Stepper and Dino Sarti have teamed up with former PepsiCo, Sodastream and Disney executive Scott Guthrie to launch Taste Tomorrow Ventures (TTV), which has so far attracted $30m for its first fund. TTV's first investment is a "strategic equity partnership" with Just Ice Tea, a US-based iced tea brand, the fund said in a statement. Just Ice Tea was founded by Seth Goldman, the founder of Honest Tea, which was sold to The Coca-Cola Company in 2011. Coca-Cola discontinued the production of Honest Tea three years ago. Goldman has established Just Ice Tea at US retailers including Whole Foods Market, Target and CVS Health. Stepper said: 'We couldn't be more excited to partner with Seth Goldman and Just Ice Tea as our first investment. It's a brand that embodies the purpose, innovation, and momentum we want to partner with." TTV's fund has secured the backing of investors including aluminium giant Ball Corporation and US consultancy Advantage Solutions. The fund will focus on investing in early-stage and Series A companies, particularly those offering functional beverages and better-for-you snacks. Guthrie said: 'The next generation of consumers is looking for authenticity, transparency and better lifestyle choices and our first investment in Just Ice Tea perfectly illustrates that.' In April, US-based iced-tea firm The Ryl Company raised $15m in its Series B round, bringing the total amount it has raised to date to $30m. It also announced plans to expand into new markets with its Ryl Tea brand. 'We are still evaluating potential avenues,' the company said. 'However, it's all focused on better-for-you-focused markets, Canada being a strong option in the short term.' Across the Atlantic, UK iced-tea brand Harry Brompton's received a £2m ($2.7m) investment from the Leeds-based private investor Traditum in April. Owned by London-based Tudor Drinks, the brand will use the funds to make ground in convenience and wholesale segments and increase marketing activity, Harry Brompton's founder Ian O'Donohue told Just Drinks. "LA Libations founders back Just Ice Tea through new fund" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taste Tomorrow Ventures Launches $30M Fund with First Investment in Just Ice Tea
Backing the next generation of beverage, food and snack brands LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Taste Tomorrow Ventures (TTV), a new venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in the beverage, food, and snack industries, proudly announces the first close of its $30 million debut fund, TTV Fund I. The fund is backed by a strong lineup of strategic investors, including Ball Corporation, and Advantage Solutions. TTV was established by LA Libations founders Danny Stepper, Dino Sarti, and partner Scott Guthrie, who collectively bring over eight decades of experience building, scaling and investing in high-growth consumer brands. TTV Fund I will invest in early-stage and Series A companies that are redefining consumer experiences—from functional beverages to better-for-you snacks. In addition to capital, TTV provides hands-on operational support and deep industry connectivity across retail, supply chain, and strategic partnerships. The fund's first investment is a strategic equity partnership with Just Ice Tea, one of the fastest-growing iced tea brands in the U.S. This move reflects TTV's focus to back mission-driven companies with strong consumer traction and great leadership. "We couldn't be more excited to partner with Seth Goldman and Just Ice Tea as our first investment—it's a brand that embodies the purpose, innovation, and momentum we want to partner with," said Danny Stepper, Co-Founder. "We're proud to launch with the support of such an influential group of strategic investors," added Dino Sarti, Co-Founder. "Their belief in our vision strengthens our ability to support transformative brands and Founders." "The next generation of consumers is looking for authenticity, transparency, and better lifestyle choices, and our first investment in Just Ice Tea perfectly illustrates that," said Scott Guthrie, Managing Director. Final close for TTV Fund I is expected in late summer 2025. View source version on Contacts For more information contact Scott Guthrie at scott@ or visit: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Taste Tomorrow Ventures Launches $30M Fund with First Investment in Just Ice Tea
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Taste Tomorrow Ventures (TTV), a new venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in the beverage, food, and snack industries, proudly announces the first close of its $30 million debut fund, TTV Fund I. The fund is backed by a strong lineup of strategic investors, including Ball Corporation, and Advantage Solutions. TTV was established by LA Libations founders Danny Stepper, Dino Sarti, and partner Scott Guthrie, who collectively bring over eight decades of experience building, scaling and investing in high-growth consumer brands. TTV Fund I will invest in early-stage and Series A companies that are redefining consumer experiences—from functional beverages to better-for-you snacks. In addition to capital, TTV provides hands-on operational support and deep industry connectivity across retail, supply chain, and strategic partnerships. The fund's first investment is a strategic equity partnership with Just Ice Tea, one of the fastest-growing iced tea brands in the U.S. This move reflects TTV's focus to back mission-driven companies with strong consumer traction and great leadership. 'We couldn't be more excited to partner with Seth Goldman and Just Ice Tea as our first investment—it's a brand that embodies the purpose, innovation, and momentum we want to partner with,' said Danny Stepper, Co-Founder. 'We're proud to launch with the support of such an influential group of strategic investors,' added Dino Sarti, Co-Founder. 'Their belief in our vision strengthens our ability to support transformative brands and Founders.' 'The next generation of consumers is looking for authenticity, transparency, and better lifestyle choices, and our first investment in Just Ice Tea perfectly illustrates that,' said Scott Guthrie, Managing Director. Final close for TTV Fund I is expected in late summer 2025.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Web Travel Group Ltd (WEJTY) Full Year 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Cash Position and ...
Underlying EBITDA: $120.6 million. Underlying NPAT: $79.2 million. Cash on Hand: $363 million. Bookings Growth: Up 20% to $8.4 million. Total Transaction Value (TTV): $4.9 billion, up 22% in AUD, 23% in constant currency. Revenue: $328.4 million. EBITDA: $138.8 million, down from $161.8 million in FY24. Gross Margin: 6.9% in the second half, 6.6% in the first half. Same-Store Sales: Up 21%. Hotel Portfolio Booking Growth: 6%. Net Interest Costs: Expected to grow into the mid-teens. Effective Tax Rate: 16%, expected to be 17% for FY26. Share Buyback: $150 million, resulting in 31.2 million shares acquired and canceled. Capital Management Initiatives: $170 million spent. Operating Expenses: Corporate costs at $18.2 million. Cash Conversion: 73%, expected to return to 100% in FY26. CapEx: $11.9 million in the second half, expected to be $26 million in FY26. Geographic Performance: APAC up 26%, Americas up 20%, Europe up 20%, Middle East up 23%. Market Share: 3.3% of a $96 billion addressable market. Future Targets: $10 billion TTV by FY30, 50% EBITDA margins by FY27. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with WEJTY. Release Date: May 27, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Web Travel Group Ltd (WEJTY) reported a strong cash position with $363 million on hand, providing financial stability. The company achieved a 22% increase in Total Transaction Value (TTV), reaching $4.9 billion, indicating robust business growth. Bookings for the year increased by 20% to 8.4 million, showcasing strong demand and market presence. The company has successfully implemented accounting changes that resulted in higher margins in the second half of the year. Web Travel Group Ltd (WEJTY) is investing in directly contracted inventory, particularly in Asia Pacific and the Americas, to drive future growth and improve margins. Revenue was disappointing at $328.4 million, impacted by several factors including incentive agreements and trading misunderstandings. EBITDA decreased by 14% compared to the previous year, primarily due to lower TTV margins and higher expenses. The company experienced challenges with its supply mix, selling a higher percentage of third-party inventory, which affected margins. There was a misunderstanding of the impact of trading during the European summer, leading to a business restructure. The post-demerger restructuring was intense, occupying senior management and affecting focus on the underlying business. Q: Can you maintain the current conversion rates throughout the year, given the strong start to FY26? A: John Guscic, Managing Director, stated that the bookings for the first two months have been strong, and they expect to continue deriving superior growth rates compared to the market for FY26 and beyond. Q: What are the key initiatives driving the acceleration in conversion rates? A: John Guscic explained that while specifics can't be disclosed, the uptick in conversion from FY24 to FY25 and into FY26 is a key driver. The growth is attributed to a combination of new clients and improved conversion rates. Q: How do you plan to achieve the EBITDA margin guidance of 44% to 47% for FY26 and 50% by FY27? A: John Guscic mentioned that the company will continue to invest in direct contracting and expects OpEx growth to be in the high single digits. The focus is on bringing high-quality employees to contribute to profitable growth. Q: How does the company plan to address the supply mix and direct contracting? A: John Guscic noted that there was never a deemphasis on hotel contractors. The focus is on increasing the percentage of directly contracted hotel sales, particularly in Asia Pacific and the Americas, to improve margins. Q: What is the impact of AI on your business operations? A: John Guscic highlighted that AI is being used to enhance conversion rates by matching availability with unique supply more effectively. This has been a key factor in achieving superior conversion rates over the past two years. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
