Gourmet News

Miyoko’s Creamery Founder Leaves Company

Published February 17, 2023

Leading plant milk dairy maker Miyoko’s Creamery and its founder, Miyoko Schinner, have parted ways as the company enters a new stage of growth. With this, Miyoko has exited as CEO and is no longer involved in day-to-day operations.

Miyoko’s Creamery has partnered with esteemed executive search firm, Heidrick & Struggles, to fill the open seat with a highly qualified, passionate, and mission-driven leader, ready to take the company into its next stage of growth. Company CFO, Jon Blair, has stepped into the role of interim president to guide this transition. Blair brings strong CPG experience and critical plant-based industry know-how to the role, having served as CFO at Rebbl and head of finance at Plum Organics.

Through this transitional period, Miyoko’s Creamery is making significant strides to perfect the art of creating cheese and butter from plant milks. The company continues to bring innovative, delicious and better-for-you dairy alternatives to market that appeal to consumers seeking plant-forward eating, including the company’s recently launched, category first-of-its-kind Cinnamon Raisin Plant Milk Cream Cheese product.

The company remains ever committed to delivering the highest quality vegan products to serve customers and challenge category norms with taste appeal, culinary excellence, and compassion. Through this commitment, Miyoko’s Creamery continues to be a Public Benefit Corporation with a stated public benefit that includes “selling new products that contain only plants, no animal ingredients, in order to eliminate animal suffering, reduce environmental stress, and improve human health”.

“Looking towards the future and exponential growth of the company, we are excited to continue and expand upon our brand mission and uphold our certified B Corporation of innovating products that only contain plant ingredients that are better for human health,” Blair said. “We also plan to make our current portfolio of products more available and to innovate products with simple, vegan ingredients, time-honored techniques, and delicious flavors.

“We continue to be driven by our core company values of craft, compassion, conviviality and courage, with these principles as our guiding light for future growth to come in the coming months and years.”

Miyoko’s cheese and butter are loved by chefs, pizzaiolos, cheesemongers, and sommeliers worldwide. Rapidly becoming a foodie favorite, Miyoko’s products are widely available in over 20,000 retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Target, Kroger and Walmart as well as in-home delivery services like Whole Foods Market via Amazon delivery and Instacart via select retailers, as well as on Miyokos.com.

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Al Gore Among Speakers at USDA Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate Summit

Published February 17, 2023

Former Vice President Al Gore will be an opening keynote speaker at the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate Summit to be held May 8-10 in Washington D.C. The AIM for Climate Summit will bring together partners to increase and accelerate investment in and support for climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.

“We are honored to have former Vice President Al Gore join us in Washington this May to kick off the AIM for Climate Summit,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “He has been on the forefront of the climate crisis for more than 40 years and is a leader in the international response to combating climate change. His participation in the Summit underscores the critical role agriculture innovation plays in addressing this global issue.”

Launched at COP26 in 2021, AIM for Climate is an initiative co-led by the United Arab Emirates and the United States that seeks to enable global partnerships and solutions at the intersection of agriculture and climate change. Since its inception, AIM for Climate partners have increased investment to more than $8 billion, launched 30 innovation sprints, and expanded to more than 275 partners worldwide. At COP27 in 2022, Vilsack announced the United States will host the AIM for Climate Summit, with support from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research.

The Summit is a premier event for AIM for Climate partners designed to serve as a dynamic platform to raise ambition, build collaborations, and share knowledge on innovative solutions in the lead-up to COP28. Vilsack and Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, United Arab Emirates minister of climate change and environment, are confirmed keynote speakers.

Partners are invited to host engaging breakout sessions, present in an interactive exhibit hall, and facilitate tours for participants. The deadline to submit proposals for these activities is Thursday, Feb. 24. For more details on how to apply, visit the AIM for Climate Summit website.

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Morinaga Nutritional Foods Acquires Tofurky, Moocho

Published February 13, 2023

Morinaga Nutritional Foods, the U.S.-based manufacturer of Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, has acquired Tofurky, a leading manufacturer of plant-based meats in the United States and its sister brand, Moocho. With the acquisition of Tofurky, Morinaga Nutritional Foods will own the #3 retail brand for in the United States.

Tofurky and Morinaga Nutritional Foods have a long-standing relationship, as Morinaga has been a tofu supplier for Tofurky products for 17 years. The acquisition of Tofurky and Moocho will help strengthen the integrated supply chain and future category growth for the brands.

Tofurky will continue manufacturing products at its sustainably-focused facility in Hood River, Ore., where Morinaga Nutritional Foods plans to increase operational excellence with technical staff to maximize capacity. The company will also uphold the core values, original recipes, and product availability of both Tofurky and Moocho brands.

“We’ve been working with the team at Morinaga for nearly two decades, and over that course of time realized the multiple synergies our organizations have across our businesses – from supply chain and operations to new product development targets,” said Jaime Athos, president and CEO of Tofurky. “We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved thus far as an independent and family-operated company, but as we enter our next stage of growth, Morinaga will provide the platform needed to help us expand more aggressively in the U.S. and beyond.”

Morinaga Nutritional Foods was founded with a vision to help people lead happy lives through delicious foods that contribute to physical, mental, and environmental health. The company manufactures shelf stable tofu, sold in both the retail and foodservice channels with a focus on quality and aseptic packaging. Offering tofu that is merchandised as an ambient finished good with considerable shelf life, as opposed to traditional refrigerated options, is a differentiated benefit in the category.

“Tofurky has a proven track record of success in the U.S. and is a significant player in the plant-based category with many loyal fans,” said Hiroyuki Imanishi, president and CEO of Morinaga Nutritional Foods. “We’re excited to help bolster both Tofurky and Moocho’s presence in the U.S. while strengthening manufacturing efficiencies and boosting new product development to meet ever-increasing marketplace demand.”

In addition to Tofurky’s sustainable manufacturing facility in Hood River, Morinaga operates a tofu manufacturing facility in Tualatin, Ore. and a Sales and R&D Office in Torrance, Calif. Morinaga plans to leverage synergies from Tofurky’s sales and marketing teams to fine-tune total portfolio approaches to the U.S. marketplace.

All Tofurky and Moocho foods are 100 percent non-GMO and are indulgent ways for everyone from vegans to flexitarians to enjoy their favorite comfort foods.

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