Forbes' under-30 foodies have big ideas for better nutrition, sustainability
Cold-pressed juice company Suja, which Lawless co-founded with Eric Ethans, James Brennan and Jeff Church, has hit the big time, with sales expected to hit $70 million this year. Last year, it struck up an investment and distribution deal with The Coca-Cola Company.
A gluten-free pasta that’s packed with protein and fiber? It’s real, it’s made from chickpeas and it’s called Banza. Rudolph co-founded the New Hope NEXTY Award-winning company with his brother, Scott.
Upcycling is the name of the game for this snack company, which aims to tackle food waste on organic banana farms in Latin America by buying “ugly” fruit rejected for export and turning it into dehydrated banana snacks. Ingersoll co-founded Barnana with Caue Suplicy and Matt Clifford.
EatPops capitalizes on the juice trend—while also making it more accessible to the average consumer—by freezing it to extend its shelf life, creating a frozen snack that includes healthy ingredients including acai, kale, spinach and beets.
On a mission to create a market for sustainable insect protein, Brown University grads Lewis and Sewitz went through the AccelFoods accelerator in 2014 to bring to market a line of protein bars made with cricket flour. CircleUp named Exo one of the most innovative brands for 2015.
Iron deficiency is prevalent in many developing countries, but supplements are expensive. This Certified B Corporation distributes, literally, a fish-shaped piece of cast iron that people can drop into the pot of boiling water they’re using for cooking to up their daily iron intake.
Friedman’s Seattle-area sandwich chain practices what it calls “sandwich environmentalism” by using a variety of organic produce and locally sourced ingredients in its 10 locations. Homegrown also lists all of its suppliers on its website and uses all compostable paper products.
Beans for breakfast! This couple developed a line of better-for-you breakfast cereals free of GMOs, wheat, corn, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils, and followed that up with lines of gluten-free breakfast oats and oat clusters. The Love Grown Foods team also visits classrooms to educate children about nutrition.
Move over, candy bars and soda. Farmer’s Fridge vending machine-like kiosks are filled with salads, fruit and healthy snacks packaged in recyclable jars. They’re currently only in the Chicago area, though.
The Fresh Corner Café isn’t actually a café—rather, the Detroit-based L3C works with a manufacturer to make fresh salads and sandwiches that are sold in corner stores and gas stations across the city, making fresh, healthy, affordable food options more accessible to Detroit residents.
Like Exo, this company is working with insect protein. But Six Foods is developing chirps—chips made with beans, corn, peas, chia seeds and cricket flour. The founders have raised more than $70,000 on Kickstarter.
It’s not food, but the packing material created by Temperpack could reduce the amount of Styrofoam in landfills. The company makes packaging insulation from plant fibers derived from recycled burlap sacks used to transport coffee and cocoa. They can also be composted after use.
It’s not food, but the packing material created by Temperpack could reduce the amount of Styrofoam in landfills. The company makes packaging insulation from plant fibers derived from recycled burlap sacks used to transport coffee and cocoa. They can also be composted after use.
Forbes recently released its annual 30 Under 30 list of young leaders doing noteworthy work across 20 industries, and there were some familiar faces in the food and social entrepreneurship categories. Here we highlight 12 entrepreneurs working to bring more health to more people—some locally, and some internationally.
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