Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
With over 20 years in the natural and organic food industry working for manufacturers, retailers, and distributors, I've had the good fortune of learning most aspects of the business. In my role as Operating Partner at Nacascolo USA, I’m able to combine all that varied experience to identify great investment opportunities and help portfolio companies succeed in an often-challenging retail environment.
Our work focuses on advising the U.S. portfolio companies for Nacascolo Holdings, a Costa Rican family office, as well as partnering with the Costa Rican portfolio brands to expand into the US market. We are currently managing the launch and rollout of Kombucha Culture, Costa Rica’s leading brand of kombucha, and working on the upcoming launch of a sustainable cleaning brand.
I serve as an advisor in the consumer packaged goods space to Anomalie Group, a boutique M&A and financial advisory firm. We work with business owners and entrepreneurs to shape financing strategies, drive growth, and plan for successful exits.
McKeon Company is a strategy consulting firm serving the packaged foods industry. Founded by Mike McKeon, the firm has led high-profile projects for leading brands and retailers in the food space for over 20 years. Notable clients include: Cravings by Chrissy Teigen • Developed go-to-market and pricing strategy, including promotional planning and cost alignment. • Identified and secured a national broker partner to support distribution into Kroger. • Advised on the commercial rollout, resulting in the launch of baking mixes in more than 2,100 Kroger stores nationwide. Whole Foods Market (Engine 2) • Managed project for the nationwide launch of the Engine 2 product line, part of a major strategic initiative to promote healthy eating. • Oversaw vendor selection, product development, QA/QC approval, packaging design, promotional activity, and logistics. • Led execution from concept through launch. Faribault Foods (S&W Beans) • Directed new product development initiatives. • Managed promotional marketing campaigns and development of sales materials. • Conducted market research to inform strategy and supported the launch of The Recipe Collection by S&W. Gartner Studios (Duff) • Developed the Duff food products line in a licensing arrangement with celebrity chef Duff Goldman (Ace of Cakes). • Led development and launch of more than 50 products across a dedicated Duff brand set at Michaels stores nationwide. • Managed end-to-end execution including supplier sourcing, packaging development, product innovation, and retail rollout.
Responsible for business development and account management of key existing and new retailer accounts nationwide.