The Original Vegan Business Talk By Shane Jeremy James

We're delighted to present an enlightening discussion with James Mclnnes, the forward-thinking founder of Odd Burger, Canada's pioneering vegan fast-food chain. Starting with a food truck in 2014, James set out to redefine the fast food landscape by providing affordable and delicious plant-based options. Today, Odd Burger is one of Canada's most rapidly expanding vegan fast food chains, boasting 18 locations and several hundred underway for international expansion.

Odd Burger's mission is to disrupt the fast food industry with unique, sustainable, and wholesome food options made from scratch with local, whole food plant-based ingredients. A crucial moment in their journey was a comprehensive rebranding process to better resonate with consumers and align with their innovative and problem-solving thinking mission in the fast food industry.

James also delves into the significant role of franchising in their business strategy. They provide extensive support to franchisees, creating an entrepreneurial culture allowing exponential growth and replicating their successful model. James recommends starting close to home for optimal operations management for those interested in becoming franchisees.

James McInnes' Discussion Highlights:

● The story of Odd Burger's evolution from a food truck to Canada's leading vegan fast food chain.
● Their mission is to revolutionize the fast food industry with sustainable and wholesome plant-based options.
● The significant rebranding process they undertook to resonate better with consumers.
● The crucial role of franchising in Odd Burger's growth strategy and its support system for franchisees.

We are honored to introduce our esteemed guest, Andrea Young, the founder of Sweet Vegan. Andrea's journey into plant-based and clean chocolate products involves passion, resilience, and innovation. Her Midwestern roots planted a deep love for food in her, eventually leading to Sweet Vegan's creation. Starting off as an interior architect, her career took an unexpected turn when she had a personal encounter with the transformative power of plant-based nutrition. This led her down the path of culinary exploration and entrepreneurship, culminating in the successful launch of Sweet Vegan.

Despite the adversities brought about by the global pandemic, Andrea navigated these challenges with a community-centric approach, pivoting her business model and finding innovative ways to connect with her customers. Her commitment to providing a healthier alternative to traditional sweets while giving back to her community has been instrumental in overcoming these obstacles. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, community, and the pursuit of passion. As Andrea takes us through her entrepreneurial journey, expect to be inspired, enlightened, and moved.

Andrea Young's Discussion Highlights:

We are delighted to introduce our esteemed guest, Aaron Brodkey, the co-founder of Theo's Plant-Based Beet Jerky. Aaron's journey is a testament to the power of friendship, innovation, and a shared commitment to health and sustainability. With his childhood friend Theo, Aaron has turned their passion for plant-based, wholesome foods into a thriving business that offers a unique and delicious alternative to traditional meat-based snacks.

Aaron's dedication to promoting sustainable food systems and the benefits of a plant-based diet stems from his personal and academic experiences. As the co-founder of Theo's Plant-Based Beet Jerky, Aaron has overcome challenges and embraced opportunities to pursue healthier and more sustainable snack options. We look forward to hearing his insights, experiences, and plans for the future as he continues to champion compassion, health, and environmental consciousness in the food industry.

Aaron Brodkey's Discussion Highlights:

We are excited to welcome Daniella Allam, the founder of Plantas, a marketing strategy and consulting firm that supports emerging plant-based and vegan brands. Daniella's journey as an entrepreneur and expert in the plant-based industry is both captivating and inspiring. Born and raised in Bolivia, Daniella moved to the US for college, where she studied anthropology and later earned her MBA. She now uses her vast experience in the food and beverage industry to help vegan and plant-based businesses thrive and grow.

With a decade of experience in the industry, Daniella has encountered numerous challenges and opportunities in her journey to build Plantas. Today, she helps her clients and shares valuable insights on navigating the hurdles of entrepreneurship and achieving sustainable growth in the competitive plant-based market. Prepare to be inspired and informed as Daniella takes us through her experiences and the lessons she has learned along the way.

Daniella Allam's Discussion Highlights:

● The inception and growth of Plantas and its mission to support emerging vegan and plant-based brands.
● The challenges Daniella faced in transitioning from an employee to an entrepreneur and adapting to new ways of working.
● The importance of balancing client work with the business side of running Plantas.
● The reality of building a business from scratch and the skills required to succeed.
● The unique challenges vegan businesses face and how Plantas helps them overcome these obstacles.
● The significance of stepping back from day-to-day operations and focusing on driving business growth as a CEO.

We are delighted to introduce our guest, Stephan Stegeman, the co-founder of Shop Like You Give a Damn, an e-commerce platform offering sustainable, ethically-made products from vegan and vegan-friendly brands. Stephan's journey from a university educator to a vegan and sustainable business pioneer is intriguing and inspiring. Stephan has gained invaluable insights into sustainable and plant-based businesses through his experiences in founding various ventures and his commitment to ethical consumerism.
Today, Stephan is not only helping consumers make more compassionate choices but is also working on a platform for vegan investors, further promoting the growth of plant-based and cruelty-free companies. His dedication to creating a positive impact through business is truly commendable.

Join us as Stephan shares his unique experiences, insights, and valuable lessons he has learned along the way.
Stephan Stegeman's Discussion Highlights:

We are delighted to welcome Frances Gonzalez, the founder of Vegan Wines, to our podcast. Frances' dedication to raising awareness about vegan wines and her entrepreneurial journey is inspiring and eye-opening. After discovering the use of animal products in the winemaking process, Frances set out to educate people about vegan wines and founded Vegan Wines in 2017. With a solid commitment to sourcing high-quality vegan wines, she has played an essential role in bringing these products to the forefront of the wine industry.

With no formal education in wine, Frances' knowledge comes from visiting vineyards and learning directly from winemakers and farmers. Her determination to make a difference in the vegan community has led to the success of Vegan Wines, which now offers a diverse portfolio of red, white, and sparkling wines worldwide. Join us as Frances shares her fascinating journey, challenges, and vision for the future of Vegan Wines.

Frances Gonzalez's Discussion Highlights:

● The inspiration behind founding Vegan Wines and her mission to educate people about vegan wines.
● Challenges faced in starting the business, including sourcing wines that met the company's criteria for both quality and vegan standards.
● The importance of knowing where a product comes from, especially in the conscious or vegan space.
● Learning about winemaking directly from vineyards and winemakers, ensuring that the wines sourced are high-quality and vegan.
● The growth and success of Vegan Wines, with a diverse portfolio and partnerships with restaurants and wine shops.
● The future of Vegan Wines and the continued effort to raise awareness and promote vegan wines in the industry.

We are excited to introduce Diana Laverdure Dunetz, the founder of Plant-Powered Dog and a renowned canine nutritionist. Her passion for dog nutrition and fresh food diets has led her to become a leading expert in the field. Diana started cooking homemade food for her dog, Chase, when he had health issues, and she noticed that he began to improve. This experience ignited her interest in dog nutrition. She decided to pursue a Masters of Animal Science to work with vets and professionals to formulate fresh food diets for dogs worldwide.

Diana's journey took an unexpected turn when she became a vegan in 2017. She could no longer continue to formulate meat-based diets for dogs because it conflicted with her values. This led her to research vegan diets for dogs and to organize the Plant Power Dog Food Summit in 2019, which educated people about the impact of the pet food industry on animals and the environment. Diana is passionate about helping dogs and educating people about the benefits of plant-based diets.

Discussion Highlights:

We are honored to have Roberto Guerro join us today, a visionary developer in the alternative protein and vegan business space. With an unwavering passion for innovation, knowledge, and sustainable food systems, Roberto has been a driving force in promoting veganism and eco-friendly practices in the industry. He has dedicated himself to understanding and promoting the alternative protein sector, recognizing its potential to revolutionize the food industry and reduce its environmental impact.

From his time as the managing director of the Spanish language version of The Economist's vegan business magazine to his current role at Singular Foods Company, Roberto has consistently pushed for a more significant focus on veganism in every aspect of his work. He believes that the vegan space is the most dynamic area of the food sector, and investing in it can be both profitable and environmentally responsible. As we explore Roberto's insights and experiences, prepare to be inspired and challenged by his forward-thinking approach to the future of food.

Roberto Guerro's Discussion Highlights:

We are excited to welcome Emma Fry, the founder of Vegan Adventure Holidays, to our stage today. With a passion for travel and a commitment to a vegan lifestyle, Emma identified a gap in the market and created her niche travel company to provide vegan-friendly adventure tours. Her venture has successfully catered to the growing demand for vegan travel, offering unique and memorable experiences for those seeking adventure while maintaining their ethical values.

Having worked in the adventure travel industry for many years and as a vegan for a decade, Emma has navigated various challenges, including finding a market for her tours and adapting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry. Despite these obstacles, Emma remains optimistic about the future of Vegan Adventure Holidays, foreseeing continued demand for vegan travel and the desire for exploration in a post-pandemic world. Join us as we delve into Emma's journey and learn more about the exciting world of vegan adventure travel.

Emma Fry's Discussion Highlights

We are honored to have JC Corcoran, co-founder of Veg Michigan and VegFund, join us today as a guest speaker. After a successful career as a fire captain, JC found his passion for veganism and activism when he discovered the environmental and health impacts of his dietary choices. Since founding Veg Michigan in 1999 and co-founding VegFund with his spouse Ray in 2009, JC has dedicated his life to promoting non-violence, critical thinking, effective communication, peaceful living, and ethical consumerism through veganism.

In addition to their work with Veg Michigan and VegFund, JC, and Ray run Santa Fe Vegan, an online community with over a thousand members. They recently purchased and renovated a property in Glorietta, which they now rent as RV spots and campsites for vegan-oriented travelers. Despite facing challenges in promoting change in Santa Fe, JC and Ray remain steadfast in their commitment to veganism and activism. Join us as we explore JC's journey and learn more about his inspiring work.

JC Corcoran's Discussion Highlights: