ReGen Brands Podcast

#61 - Jay Albany @ Wide Open Agriculture - Regenerating The Western Australian Wheat Belt

On this episode, we have Jay Albany who is the CEO of Wide Open Agriculture.
 
Wide Open Agriculture is Australia's leading regenerative food and agriculture company and operates 3 distinct enterprises. Under the name Dirty Clean Food, they operate a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform that sells 300 different regenerative and artisan products directly to wholesale customers and individual consumers. They’ve also launched a line of branded, oat-milk-based CPG products under the Dirty Clean Food name as well. 
 
WOA is focusing its future growth on its third enterprise - producing and supplying Buntine Protein® created by processing Australian sweet lupin. Sweet lupin serves as a rotational crop in regenerative systems of the Western Australian wheat belt but currently does not have a large, profitable market as a human food ingredient.
 
Wide Open Ag’s business is a beautiful blend of targeting both local and global impact while operating under their “4 returns” mandate which includes financial, natural, social and inspirational returns. 
 
Episode Highlights:
 
👏 Their mission to regenerate the Western Australian wheat belt
🔮 How Jay met the Founders and joined the team
🥩 Bringing better food to Western Australia
🍔 Landing a burger joint to catalyze their brand
📈 Growing Dirty Clean Food to $12M
🥛 Launching the world’s 1st regenerative oat milk
💰 Sweetening the economics of sweet lupins
💥 Introducing Buntine Protein® - a better plant-based protein
🔥 Why Buntine Protein® is better
👍 Tackling local and global impact at once to scale regen
 
Links:
Wide Open Agriculture
Dirty Clean Food
Short Order Burger
Oatly
Minor Figures
Buntine Protein®
Curtin University
Wide Open Agriculture acquires Prolupin
Saputo Dairy Australia
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#60 - Rafaela Gontijo Lenz @ NUU - Brazilian Cheese Bread Goes Regenerative

On this episode, we have Rafaela Gontijo Lenz who is the Founder and CEO at NUU.
 
NUU is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of regenerative, cassava-based foods that includes cheese bread, chees bread pizza, tapioca sticks, and more. These items are sold in over 1,500 retail and foodservice points of sale in Brazil.
 
In this episode, we learn how Rafaela was inspired to leave her job at Johnson & Johnson to start a cheese bread company supporting smallholder farmers, her regenerative awakening and NUU’s regenerative journey, and their recent 4 million dollar fundraise that is set to power their future vision.
 
NUU is a certified B Corp, certified carbon neutral, led by an entirely female C-suite, and has been recognized by The United Nations as 1 of 50 global companies to help lead the regenerative food movement.
 
Episode Highlights:
 
🇧🇷 Our 2nd international episode with NUU from Brazil!
🤤 Why Rafaela left Johnson & Johnson to start NUU
🧀 Bringing better Brazilian cheese bread to the masses
🤩 Their indigenous, hero ingredient: yuca (cassava)
🧑‍🌾 Building supply chains to purchase from smallholder farmers
🤝 Engaging investors, NGOs, and the government in their regen journey
💡 Why all their SKUs are “air fryer friendly”
💰 Their recent 4 million dollar fundraise!
❤️ Why we need to re-feminize the food system
🔥 Using event ambassadors to drive discovery and trial
 
Links:
NUU
NUU Secures $4 Million in Series A Funding
NUU’s Zero Carbon Factory
The history of Pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread)
Kiss The Ground Movie
Jornada Amazônia
Dengo
VEJA
EcoEnterprises Fund
farfarm
Pão de Açúcar
Carrefour
Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation
Alex Atala - Mandioca 
The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food
Donos do Mercado 
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#59 - Edd Lees @ Wildfarmed - Leading The UK's Regenerative Wheat Revolution

On this episode, we have Edd Lees who is one of the Co-Founders at Wildfarmed. 
 
Wildfarmed is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of regenerative wheat flours that are used in retailers, restaurants, and bakeries across the United Kingdom and powered by a network of 80 regenerative farmers.
 
In this episode, we learn how the brand was started when a famous DJ traded in his turntables for a tractor, how they’ve grown the business through a branded B2B2C strategy, and their big plans for their first Wildfarmed CPG product launch in 2024.
 
Episode Highlights:
 
🥳 Our 1st international episode with Wildfarmed!
🎤 How a grammy-nominated musician became a regenerative farmer
🔥 “First they laugh at you, then they hate you, then they want to join you”
👏 Scaling their B2B2C strategy from 1 bakery to 400 customers
🤩 Their regenerative standards and network of 80 farmers
😯 How they won a 25-year tenancy on their demonstration farm
🎯 Why their brand is all about being “Full of Life”
⚡ Their 1st branded CPG launch coming in 2024!
🤯 Partnering with a nationwide retailer to sell bread AND grow wheat
💥 Why stale category + high household penetration = opportunity
 
Links:
Wildfarmed
Andy Cato
Wildfarmed Standards
Henry Dimbleby
National Trust
The Green Revolution
Cairnspring Mills
Steward
RFSI
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#58 - Derrick Jackson @ Grass Grazed - Refocusing The Family Farm On CPG Meat Sticks

On this episode, we have Derrick Jackson who is a Farmer and Co-Founder of Grass Grazed. 
 
Grass Grazed is supporting regenerative agriculture with a myriad of direct-to-consumer livestock products and just launched its first CPG item, Grazed Snax. Grazed Snax is a meat stick made from 100% pasture-raised pork. 
 
In this episode, we learn how Derrick and his family went from raising 25 backyard chickens to 4,000 pasture-raised birds in just 11 months, the barriers that small-scale regenerative farmers face in receiving financing for land acquisition, and why the family has decided to invest in building CPG products as a key to their future growth.
 
Episode Highlights:
 
👉 Health and accessibility challenges that made Derrick a farmer
😂 The family raising their first 25 backyard birds
😯 Scaling to 4,000 pastured chickens in 11 months
💰 Diversifying into 5 income streams (poultry, eggs, beef, pork, and dairy)
🔥 Providing a 65-family “buying club” with all of their meat and dairy
🎯 Why they launched their first CPG product
😡 How USDA loans discriminate against small, regenerative farmers
💡 Formulating, designing, and launching Grazed Snax
💥 Shifting their whole focus to pasture-raised meat sticks
👏 Why “bringing farmers to the table” is key to a regenerative future
 
Links:
Grass Grazed
Grazed Snax
Justin Rhodes
Pastured Poultry Profits
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#57 - Zack Gazzaniga @ Zack's Mighty - Mighty Tortilla Chips Powered By Regenerative Corn

On this episode, we have Zack Gazzaniga who is the Founder of Zack's Mighty.
 
Zack’s Mighty is supporting regenerative agriculture with its tortilla chip products made with certified regenerative corn.
 
In this episode, we learn about Zack’s journey in CPG helping to build and scale Sir Kensington’s, why he was compelled to “make chips that don’t break in dip,” and the wild ride building Zack’s Mighty supply chain that included everything from importing an heirloom variety of corn into the US, setting up direct trade supply with farms, investing in proprietary manufacturing processes, and certifying their regenerative claims through A Greener World (AGW).
 
Episode Highlights:
 
💪 Creating a chip that won’t break in dip
🥇 Being employee #1 at Sir Kensington’s
😂 Zack’s year-long journey to pick his entrepreneurial pursuit
🤯 The history of “flint corn” and why they use it
🔥 Importing flint corn from Italy for their first growing season
🤝 How regenerative claims can help brands get on shelf at retail
😬 Launching nationally in Whole Foods during COVID 
🌽 Why the best tortilla chips start as tortillas first
🌟 Using A Greener World (AGW) for regenerative certification
👀 Their new “Rolled” chip line and why they aren’t regenerative
 
Links:
Zack’s Mighty
Sir Kensington's
Flint Corn History
Anson Mills
Stone House Farm
Hudson Carbon
A Greener World (AGW)
Certified Regenerative by A Greener World (AGW)
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#56 - Kyle Koehler @ Wildway - Transitioning An 11-Year Old Brand To 100% ROC™

On this episode, we have Kyle Koehler who is the Founder and CEO at Wildway.
 
Wildway is supporting regenerative agriculture with its commitment to transition its entire product portfolio to Regenerative Organic Certified®, beginning with a 4-SKU lineup of Planet Friendly Oats and a 3-SKU lineup of Coconut Chips.
 
In this episode, we learn about Kyle’s 11-year journey bootstrapping Wildway from the farmers’ market to a nationally distributed and profitable brand, Kyle shares his inspiration for taking the brand fully regenerative organic and the immense challenges that has created, plus he also shares how they’re looking to fund the future of the business with redeemable equity.
 
Episode Highlights:
 
👏 Wildway’s commitment to 100% Regenerative Organic Certified®
😂 How Kyle cold-called his way into Whole Foods
👍 Not wanting the brand to be synonymous with diet culture
🤯 Bootstrapping the brand for its entire 11-year journey
👎 Challenges of transitioning products to organic + regenerative
🤝 Why pre-competitive collaborations can scale regen supply
🔥 Using “beyond sustainable” to spur consumer curiosity
😡 The pitfalls of the current CPG financing landscape
💰 Funding their future with redeemable equity
🎯 Kyle’s 3-pronged approach to Wildway’s future strategy
 
Links:
Wildway
Regenerative Organic Certified®
Whole30
Tradin Organics
Mad Markets
One Step Closer
Redeemable Equity
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#55 - Monique Hypes & Marie Krane @ Tomato Bliss - Saving The Heirloom Tomato From Extinction

On this episode, we have Monique Hypes and Marie Krane who are the Co-Founders of ⁠Tomato Bliss⁠.
Tomato Bliss is on a mission to “save the heirloom tomato from extinction” with their line of heirloom tomato soups that are made with tomatoes grown on their certified Regenified™ farm in Southwest Michigan.
In this episode, we learn why tomato farming became Marie’s chosen form of activism, how she found Monique to help Tomato Bliss become more than just a farmers market brand, and the strategies they’re using to grow both supply and demand for regeneratively grown heirloom tomatoes at the same time.
Episode Highlights:
😍 “Saving Heirloom Tomatoes From Extinction”
👏 Marie’s journey fighting to save heirloom tomato seeds
💡 Why farming and CPG became her best path to seed-saving
🤝 Hiring Monique to take the brand beyond the farmers’ market
🤯 90% of tomato production comes from less than 25 seeds
👍 Intercropping as their secret weapon for pest prevention
🏅 Why their farm is certified Regenified™
🧑‍🍳 How they’re using food service to fuel their growth
⚡ Why stores should merchandise their SKUs in the produce department
📈 The imperative for regen brands to scale supply and demand in tandem
Links:
⁠Tomato Bliss⁠
⁠Green City Market⁠
⁠Good Food Accelerator⁠
⁠The Food Foundry⁠
⁠The Dorito Effect⁠
⁠Regenified™⁠
⁠Notre Dame & Tomato Bliss⁠
Please follow⁠ Kyle⁠ and⁠ AC⁠ on LinkedIn 

#54 - Cody Hopkins @ Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative - Regen Co-Op Selling 7 Species Of Livestock

On this episode, we have Cody Hopkins who is the CEO and Founding Farmer at Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative.
Grass Roots is supporting regenerative agriculture with its 7-species lineup of meat products.
In this episode, we learn why Cody was inspired to start the Co-Op after being a small-scale poultry farmer, what makes their business model and corporate structure unique, and how Heifer International and Heifer USA have been important partners along the way.
Episode Highlights:
👏 Why Cody started the Co-Op after being a small poultry farmer
🧑‍🌾 Being vertically integrated and cooperating 50+ farmers
🤔 Learning from Zingerman’s ecosystem of businesses
💰 Partnering with Heifer International & Heifer USA
🔥 Balancing standardization and contextualization
🔪 Having ownership in their processor, Cypress Valley Meats
🥇 Onboarding with Land to Market™ & EOV™
😍 Why philanthropists should fund nutrient density testing
💥 Using guaranteed contracts + “common pay rates” to buy from farmers
🤯 Why regen needs scale, efficiency, and vertical integration
Links:
Grass Roots Farmers’ Cooperative
Zingerman's Community of Businesses
Value-Added Producer Grants
Heifer International
Heifer USA
Cypress Valley Meat Company
Land to Market™
EOV™
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#53 - Adam Hiner & Maddie Hamann @ PACHA - Regenerative Buckwheat Bread Goes Nationwide

On this episode, we have Adam Hiner & Maddie Hamann who are the Co-Founders @ PACHA.
PACHA is supporting regenerative agriculture with its lineup of organic and regenerative buckwheat bread products including 3 flavors of bread and 1 SKU of buns.
In this episode, we learn how PACHA found a reliable source of regenerative buckwheat through an innovative farmer partnership and how they’re rolling out their products nationally into Whole Foods as we speak.
Episode Highlights:
🤤 How Adam became obsessed with buckwheat bread
👏 Their national rollout in Whole Foods happening NOW!
🌊 Maddie’s transition from oceanography to entrepreneurship 
🌳 Adam volunteering at a non-profit regenerative farm
📦 Why COVID forced them to focus on DTC early on
🏗️ Building buckwheat supply with John @ Field Theory
👍 The agronomic and commercial benefits of buckwheat
🥇 Working with Social Carbon Initiative (SCI) for certification
🤯 The simple power of slicing bread
💭 Creative marketing that drives trial at retail
Links:
PACHA
Trilogy Sanctuary
Lil Bucks
Field Theory
Soil Carbon Initiative
Cultivate CPG
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#52 - Hayley Painter @ Painterland Sisters - Regenerative Skyr Yogurt Safeguarding The Family Farm

On this episode, we have Hayley Painter who is one of the Co-Founders @ Painterland Sisters.
Painterland Sisters is supporting regenerative agriculture with its line of organic and regenerative Icelandic skyr yogurt products that are made with organic milk sourced from their family farm and others in the Northern Pennsylvania area.
In this episode, we learn about how Painterland Sisters has grown to a 3-million-dollar annual run rate in just under two years of business, how this sister duo proposed a CPG brand as a way to protect the future of their family farm, plus what the term “regenerative” means to them, their farm, and their brand.
Episode Highlights:
💥 The difference between skyr, greek, and regular yogurt
🐄 Why their cows are “grass-based” versus “grass-fed”
🙏 Why CPG was the best path to safeguard their farm
😂 Hand-labeling the first 60,000 yogurts
👏 Eclipsing $1M in revenue in the first 12 months
👍 Pooling organic milk from their neighbor farms for supply
💪 Why their yogurts are packed with nutrition
🎯 How regenerative starts with adequate farmer livelihoods
😍 Leveraging “The Moo Crew” to boost retail sales
💰 Their WeFunder campaign happening NOW
Links:
Painterland Sisters
Painterland’s WeFunder Campaign
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