Grateful Ventures, LLC, a Phoenix-based online media and publishing company which focuses on building lifestyle content and monetization strategies for high-influence food and cooking websites and bloggers, received a majority investment from Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI), parent company of Usa Today Network.
The amount of the deal was not disclosed.
The company intends to use the funds to expand and diversify Usa Today Network’s portfolio and audience, and increase the number of Gannett’s owned and operated digital sites.
As a part of Usa Today Network, Grateful will launch in 2018 into several new personality-driven lifestyle categories with long-tail content, videos, live interactions, event integrations and passion topics to create meaningful connections with readers across multiple platforms.
These new initiatives with Grateful will increase Usa Today Network’s advertising offerings through influencer marketing, branded content and events sponsorships with consumers who are deeply engaged.
The initial focus will continue with Grateful’s vision in the food & cooking category. Usa Today Network, through its content, scale and promotion, will accelerate the company’s build out of Thanksgiving.com as the top destination for all holiday-related food and cooking content, and drive growth in its blogging network, Food Blog Stars.
Additionally, the two companies will further develop its social media platform created exclusively for food bloggers, FoodBlogs.com.
Founded in 2014 by Kyle Cox, CEO, and Justin Rainbow, CTO, Grateful reaches an audience of approximately 8.5 million food followers each month. The company will be expanding the team to support the development and launch of the new lifestyle sites, such as beauty & style, parenting, health & fitness and more. Additionally, the company has plans to build a video-production and photography facility, which will include a kitchen studio to regularly produce original video series and shows.
FinSMEs
07/10/2017