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Phil Graves
CEO, meati
Phil Graves is the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Meati Foods, a company that produces alternative protein products made from MushroomRoot™.12 Here are some key details about Phil Graves and his role at Meati:
Career Background
Prior Experience::
- CEO of Wild Idea Buffalo Co. for nearly two years
- Chief Sustainability Officer and foundation president at Bass Pro Shops
- VP of corporate development at Patagonia
- Founder of Patagonia's corporate venture fund, Tin Shed Ventures14
Expertise:: Phil Graves specializes in corporate finance for companies dedicated to having positive impacts on people and the planet while achieving profitability.1
Transition to Meati Foods
Initial Appointment:: Graves joined Meati Foods as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in early February 2024.1
Rapid Promotion:: Just two weeks after joining as CFO, Graves was appointed as the new CEO of Meati Foods.34
Role and Responsibilities
As CEO, Graves is focused on:
- Driving Meati Foods towards profitability
- Streamlining operations
- Overseeing capital expenditures for continued omnichannel expansion
- Leveraging his experience in helping enterprises deliver positive environmental and social impact alongside profit12
Company Outlook
Under Graves' leadership, Meati Foods aims to:
- Expand its retail presence from 3,600 to 10,000 locations by the end of 2024
- Achieve EBITDA positivity within the next 12 months
- Continue developing innovative products and expanding the Meati brand24
Graves emphasizes the company's bright future, stating, "This category-defining product is already in 3,600 stores nationwide after just one year of production, showcasing its boundless potential".2
Highlights
When I reflect on my career and what is most important to me in a role, what stands out most is whether I feel the work I am pouring my life into is building a better world for my three young daughters. My career has evolved over time, and I've been fortunate to hold several impactful roles at companies that include Patagonia and Wild Idea Buffalo Co. I am thrilled to announce today that I am joining meati™ as CFO.
This role allows me to work alongside Meati’s top-notch team in building a healthier, more accessible, and more sustainable food system. That’s a future I want for my daughters. A better world is within reach because of Meati's driven team, its mission, and, of course, the mighty MushroomRoot.
This remarkable new whole food source offers everything essential to becoming a global staple that is better for people and the planet. It’s perfectly textured, delicious, and easy to cook. It grows rapidly – a few spores take just a few days to turn into the equivalent of a cow's worth of protein. It pulls that off using vastly fewer resources than other options, while creating a nutritional package that’s packed with complete protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and other important components of a healthy diet.
In sum, Meati offers a food that’s best-in-class for the planet and is something people actually want to eat. It’s a sustainable protein that my wife and daughters – two of them flexitarians, one a vegetarian, and one a die-hard meat-eater – will all love.
I’m looking forward to family dinners where we will gather around the table, enjoy Meati's Cutlets and Steaks, and talk about how Dad’s work is building a brighter future. Bon appétit!
Working alongside Wild Idea Buffalo Co. founder Dan O'Brien to use buffalo to regenerate the prairie grasslands has been a highlight of my career. Today, we are proud to announce that Wild Idea's home Cheyenne River Buffalo Ranch has achieved the prestigious Audubon Certified bird-friendly seal from National Audubon Society.
“Birds are the real reason I started all this,” said O’Brien, “I simply longed to share open spaces with them. But I quickly realized they are in trouble due to widespread habitat loss and degradation. Bringing bison back has been my way to save the planet, help renew the prairie, and improve cover for birds. The link between bison and birds has and always will be a full circle.”
Bravo, Dan!
https://lnkd.in/gV4kWqNU
Thank you for helping us achieve this important milestone, Cody Grewing, Marshall Johnson, Farley Green, Colton Jones, and Anthony Hauck!
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