Organic baby food company Once Upon A Farm, co-founded by Hollywood actress Jennifer Garner, is gaining attention within financial circles as it approaches its initial public offering (IPO). Based in California, the business is targeting to raise about $208.9 million by offering nearly 11 million shares priced between $17 and $19 per share. This transaction would position the company at a valuation close to $764.4 million, marking a significant milestone since its inception.
Industry analyst Bennett Cheer of Hedgeye Risk Management discussed Once Upon A Farm during the firm's podcast “The Call,” emphasizing the company’s strategy in relation to its leadership. Cheer highlights CEO John Foraker's noteworthy history, recalling his previous role spearheading Annie’s Homegrown, another organic food brand that was acquired by General Mills Inc. in 2014. This precedent contributes to analysts’ expectations that Once Upon A Farm is poised to follow a similar trajectory.
Cheer described this approach effectively as an acquisition playbook: build the brand quickly and scale operations, then position the company for purchase by a larger consumer goods entity. He suggested that the expected post-IPO valuation of around $1 billion — estimates based on the company’s performance and outlook — might actually underestimate its potential. Cheer pointed out that Once Upon A Farm has demonstrated a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 64.6%, an impressive figure that is infrequently seen among consumer product companies.
The company was originally founded in 2015 by Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz, with Jennifer Garner and John Foraker joining as co-founders two years later. The management team’s combined expertise in organic food brands and celebrity-driven marketing is viewed as a compelling asset. Although Once Upon A Farm has not yet responded publicly to inquiries regarding its IPO plans, the company’s registration documents provide insight into operational risks and financial ambitions.
One key risk identified in the company's prospectus relates to the ongoing trade environment under the U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump. Specifically, tariffs and trade barriers imposed on imports from Mexico and South America could impact the business significantly. Since a considerable portion of the fruits and vegetables used as ingredients are sourced from these regions, any escalation or prolongation of trade restrictions may affect supply chains and costs.
Once Upon A Farm's shares are slated to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “OFRM.” According to independent IPO tracking resources, the anticipated debut date is February 6, 2026. The offering is being led jointly by investment banking firms Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, which serve as the bookrunning managers for the transaction.
In related industry news, General Mills Inc., the acquiring company of Annie’s Homegrown back in 2014, has maintained a steady market presence with a stock price fluctuating modestly around $44.49, hinting at the stability in consumer goods sectors that embrace organic and natural product segments.
Once Upon A Farm stands at a critical juncture. Its impressive growth metrics and leadership legacy suggest that it is positioning itself not only to succeed as an independent public company but also to attract interest from larger firms looking to expand their offerings in the organic baby food market. The upcoming IPO and the company’s handling of supply chain and trade risks will be instrumental in determining its next phase of corporate evolution.