Nestle did not disclose its exact investment. The investment will help Freshly build a new East Coast kitchen and distribution centre in 2018 as it prepares to expand its US service nationwide.
Nestle USA's Food Division President Jeff Hamilton would join Freshly's board of directors.
Nestle said last week it may sell its roughly $900 million-a-year US confectionery business, which includes Butterfinger and BabyRuth.
Headquartered in New York with operations in Phoenix, Freshly was founded in 2015 and employs 400.
Nestle USA Chairman and CEO Paul Grimwood said consumers still bought most food in supermarkets but were increasing turning to DTC options.
"Acquiring a position in Freshly not only gives us access to this growth market, but it also brings reciprocal benefits for both companies. Nestle will gain visibility into Freshly's advanced analytics and its highly effective distribution network and Freshly will benefit from our R&D, nutrition and sourcing expertise," he said in a statement.
Its Phoenix facility in the western state of Arizona lets
Freshly ship to around 40 percent of consumers. Its new plant in Maryland should let Freshly serve about 93 percent of the US population with prepared meals that can be heated in two to three minutes, Nestle estimated.