Jennifer Garner's Once Upon a Farm targets $764 million valuation in US IPO

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By Arasu Kannagi Basil

Jan 26 (Reuters) - Once Upon a Farm, the children's organic food company co-founded by actor Jennifer Garner, said on Monday it was targeting a valuation of up to $764.4 million in its U.S. initial public offering, as optimism grows that consumer-related IPOs will rebound in 2026.

The Berkeley, California-based company and some of its backers are seeking up to $208.9 million by offering 11 million shares priced between $17 and $19 apiece.

Dealmakers expect listings by retailers and consumer goods companies to rebound in 2026 after U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs dampened activity last year.

"Tariffs will be a sticking point for consumer IPOs, but at least investors now have more confidence in the impact, compared to last year," said Matt Kennedy, senior ‍strategist at Renaissance Capital, a provider of IPO-focused research and ETFs.

"Investors want predictability - that's why it's difficult to price an IPO when the supply chain is in the middle of a big shift with new tariffs."

Once Upon a Farm warned in its prospectus that trade barriers affecting Mexico and South America, where it sources a significant share of its fruit and vegetable ingredients, could lead to shortages and higher costs.

The company offers a range of products targeted at children of all ages, from cold-pressed pouches to frozen meals and oat bars.

Once Upon a Farm had planned to go public in 2025, but the listing was delayed after the longest-ever U.S. government shutdown halted the Securities and Exchange Commission's operations.

Cassandra Curtis and Ari Raz started Once Upon a ​Farm in 2015. Two years later, ‍Garner and John Foraker, the former CEO of food brand Annie's, joined the company as ​co-founders.

Investment firms CAVU Venture Partners, S2G Ventures and Cambridge Companies SPG are among the top shareholders of the company, which had raised $52 million in a 2022 funding round.

Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan are the joint lead bookrunning managers. Once Upon a Farm will list on the NYSE under the symbol "OFRM."

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed and Leroy Leo)

((ArasuKannagi.Basil@thomsonreuters.com;))