/Jennifer Garner, 50, says her company has gone from $1M a year to $100M a year

Jennifer Garner, 50, says her company has gone from $1M a year to $100M a year


Jennifer Garner talked up her nature-based company Once Upon a Farm.

As Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer, she spoke at Fast Company’s 8th annual Innovation Festival in New York City on Thursday about what prompted her to join Once Upon a Farm early. 

The ex of Ben Affleck also said the company has become massive: ‘The business has grown a lot. As a matter of fact, when we were here last time we were less than $1 million a year and now by the end of this year we’re in the $100 million dollars.’ 

Once Upon a Farm announced in March the closing of $52 million in Series D funding.

Mogul: Jennifer Garner talked up her nature-based company Once Upon a Farm. As Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer, she spoke at Fast Company's 8th annual Innovation Festival in New York City on Thursday about what prompted her to join Once Upon a Farm early

Mogul: Jennifer Garner talked up her nature-based company Once Upon a Farm. As Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer, she spoke at Fast Company’s 8th annual Innovation Festival in New York City on Thursday about what prompted her to join Once Upon a Farm early 

Now in over 11,000 retail stores in North America, and with a robust direct-to-consumer and ecommerce platform, Once Upon a Farm is expected to double again in 2022 based on broad consumer and market acceptance of their growing product portfolio that spans from first bites baby food to school snacking for kids, per PR Newswire in March. 

She was also candid about the need for American baby food to measure up to Europe’s. 

During the panel, Tiny Tastebuds: Delighting and Sustaining the Next Generation which also featured Once Upon a Farm’s other Co-founder and CEO, John Foraker, Jennifer explained why she got involved with Once Upon a Farm.

‘Once Upon a Farm was such a total no-brainer as a working mom. I remember coming home from work, I was shooting The Kingdom, I’d had my first baby,’ she said.

‘I remember having fake blood all over and just standing at the blender crying. I was so tired making food for my baby. And this would have been a no-brainer, game-changer, day-saver,’ she added.

Money mama: The ex of Ben Affleck also said the company has become massive: 'The business has grown a lot. As a matter of fact, when we were here last time we were less than $1 million a year and now by the end of this year we're in the $100 million dollars'

Money mama: The ex of Ben Affleck also said the company has become massive: ‘The business has grown a lot. As a matter of fact, when we were here last time we were less than $1 million a year and now by the end of this year we’re in the $100 million dollars’

Freshly grown: According to the brand's official website, some of the ingredients are grown on Jennifer's family farm located in Oklahoma

Freshly grown: According to the brand’s official website, some of the ingredients are grown on Jennifer’s family farm located in Oklahoma 

Jennifer on the success of Once Upon a Farm: ‘The business has grown a lot. As a matter of fact, when we were here last time we were less than a million dollars a year and now by the end of this year we’re in the 100 million dollars.’

Jennifer on why American baby food should rise up to European quality: ‘Why should European babies get all the good stuff? Our kids deserve veggies; they deserve to have food that isn’t stacked with sugar, they deserve to have food that isn’t contaminated with plastics and heavy metals.’ 

Garner showcased her sense of business fashion as she stopped by The Fast Company Innovation Festival. 

The Adam Project actress, 50, opted for an all-black ensemble, comprising of sleek black trousers and heels of the same color. 

Biz lady: Once Upon a Farm announced in March the closing of $52 million in Series D funding

Biz lady: Once Upon a Farm announced in March the closing of $52 million in Series D funding 

The mother of three was asked to be a guest speaker at the event which offers a networking space for creative innovators and individuals.  

The 13 Going On 30 star opted for a professional look for the day, donning a pair of high-waisted black trousers. 

The beauty tucked in a black, turtleneck sweater into the waist of her pants and chose to roll her sleeves up as she posed for a brief photo session at the festival. 

Jennifer slipped into a pair of black, pointed heels to complete her overall ensemble. 

She appeared to be in high spirits as she took time to attend the networking event with other successful entrepreneurs and celebrities in the big apple.  

Stunning: The talented actress showed off her business fashion as she attended the festival in the big apple

Stunning: The talented actress showed off her business fashion as she attended the festival in the big apple 

The beauty was later pictured sitting for a panel discussion. To accessorize her look, she wore a pair of gold necklaces and gold-hooped earrings to add a pop of color to the monochromatic ensemble. 

Her diamond eternity band that she wore on her right sparkled as she sat under a set of bright light. The ring possibly could be from her current beau, John C. Miller. The two dated from 2018 to 2020, and reunited in 2021. 

Her brunette hair naturally fell down past her shoulders with her side bangs lightly brushing her forehead. 

Jennifer attended Thursday’s event to represent her baby food brand called, Once Upon A Farm, and is both a co-founder and the chief brand officer for the company. The CEO and co-founder of the brand, John Foraker, was also in attendance. 

Other celebrities that attended day three of the festival in New York City included Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Jamie Lee Curtis.  

Happy: Jennifer was all smiles as she posed for a few pictures outside of the venue in the heart of the city

Happy: Jennifer was all smiles as she posed for a few pictures outside of the venue in the heart of the city 

According to the event’s official website, the festival is a place meant to, ‘convene thousands of makers and innovators from across the globe,’ and ‘exceptional leaders and doers shaping the future.’  

Jennifer’s baby food company was co-founded in 2017, and focuses on creating food with only ‘fresh’ ingredients, including the avoidance of added sugars and artificial flavoring. 

When talking to Forbes, the Alias actress explained, ‘We want absolutely the best for our kids. We really believe every mom makes an inherent promise the minute she has a new baby to do right by them.’

She added that, ‘I’ve never been involved with a company at this level where I’m in to win it on a day-to-day basis and inserting myself in places I don’t even belong, just because I get to, and because John is kind enough to let me in.’ 

The brand’s website revealed that a portion of the fruits and vegetables included in the baby food is freshly grown on Jennifer’s family farm located in Oklahoma.  

Family first: The actress has three children whom she shares with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, including Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10

Family first: The actress has three children whom she shares with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, including Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10

Once Upon A Farm has a partnership with Save The Children, which is an organization created to help better the lives of children around the world.  

The talented actress has three children of her own, Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Ben Affleck. 

When talking about advice that she would give to her kids, Jennifer told Harper’s Bazaar, ‘Look in the mirror less, obsess less, and look at the rest of the world to see what you could be using your time for instead.’ 

‘We all look at our faces more than people used to, and it doesn’t do you any good. You obsess over changes or how to fix something on your face,’ the Golden Globe winner added. 

Jennifer has been a busy mom, from focusing on family, to working on set of her latest Apple TV project called, The Last Thing He Told Me. Other cast members include Game Of Thrones alum, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Australian actress, Angourie Rice.  

Back on set: Jennifer has been cast to play the role of Hannah in the upcoming Apple TV miniseries called, The Last Thing He Told Me

Back on set: Jennifer has been cast to play the role of Hannah in the upcoming Apple TV miniseries called, The Last Thing He Told Me 

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