Mark Kavanagh

Mark Kavanagh Email and Phone Number

VP R and D @ Once Upon a Farm
Chicago, IL, US
Mark Kavanagh's Location
Naples, Florida, United States, United States
Mark Kavanagh's Contact Details
About Mark Kavanagh

R&D VP with 25 years of leadership experience in product development, quality, packaging and engineering in the food and beverage industry. Ability to develop robust innovation pipelines and lead tremendous growth at small companies and start-ups through new product launches. Passion for product innovation, and skilled in product development and commercialization at multiple copackers.

Mark Kavanagh's Current Company Details
Once Upon a Farm

Once Upon A Farm

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VP R and D
Chicago, IL, US
Mark Kavanagh Work Experience Details
  • Once Upon A Farm
    Vp R And D
    Once Upon A Farm
    Chicago, Il, Us
  • Nature'S Fynd
    Chief Product Officer
    Nature'S Fynd Jun 2024 - Present
    Chicago, Illinois , Us
    Actively creating new products in the alt-meat and dairy space using Fy Protein (nutritional fungi protein created using breakthrough fermentation technology). Responsible for all aspects of new product innovation, rapid prototyping, lab and pilot plant development, and copacker commercialization. Leading group of 9 product developers, packaging engineers and sensory scientists.
  • Good Planet Foods
    Vp R&D/Quality
    Good Planet Foods Aug 2020 - Jun 2024
    Bellevue, Wa, Us
    • Developed first ever Olive Oil based vegan cheese, enabling launch into Whole Foods and 2X revenue.• Developed plant based non-GMO cheese shreds, slices, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and snacking wedges. Identified 4 copackers, led scale-up and commercialization of all new products.
  • Chef'S Cut Real Jerky Co.
    Vp R&D / Innovation
    Chef'S Cut Real Jerky Co. Jun 2019 - Jun 2020
    Successful sale of business to Sonoma Brands• Led innovation pipeline development for the organization, while leveraging 4 co-pack partners• Developed and launched Zero Sugar Jerky and Zero Sugar Beef Sticks• Developed full pipeline of innovation programs, including plant based jerky, high protein products and culinary creations with real vegetables.• Managed all nutritionals and claims development as well as USDA regulatory submissions.
  • Siggi'S Dairy
    Sr. Director R&D, Quality & Regulatory
    Siggi'S Dairy Jan 2018 - Jun 2019
    New York,, Ny, Us
    Successful sale of business to Lactalis• Managed a group of 4 R&D and Quality professionals, and 5 copacker facilities. • Successfully developed and launched siggi’s plant based high-protein yogurt and Nut Butter sidecar product (national distribution)• Managed copacker and supplier quality, including 15% complaint reduction year over year• Partnered with Lactalis dairy team to launch siggi's products globally.
  • Back To Nature Foods Company, Llc
    Vp R&D / Qa
    Back To Nature Foods Company, Llc Feb 2014 - Nov 2017
    Successful sale of business to B&G Foods• Managed R&D and Quality for a $120MM+ business that spans 7 categories (cookies, crackers, granola, trail mix, cereal, soup, juice).• Reformulated & relaunched SnackWell’s by removing HFCS, artificial flavors, and preservatives.• Led new product development resulting in 52 new products launched over 3.5 years. • Obtained Non GMO Project verification on 78 skus in a 12 month period, while reducing COGS.• Responsible for maintaining product quality at all 21 co-packer facilities across the US and Canada.• Managed Supply Chain group (production scheduling, transportation, warehousing) for 6 months while searching for new VP.
  • Faribault Foods, Inc
    Vp Product Development
    Faribault Foods, Inc Sep 2010 - Feb 2014
    Faribault, Mn, Us
    Successful sale of business to La Costena• Lead 8 person research group for thermally processed canned foods and juices.• Responsible for Product Development and Regulatory across all Branded, Private Label and Co-pack products (thermally processed cans & flexible pouch products including soup, chili, pasta, beans)• Responsible for delivering $1MM annually in cost reduction programs on raw materials and conversion.• Product innovation lead for new concepts introduced to key co-pack customers
  • Conagra Foods
    Sr Director - Quality & Food Safety
    Conagra Foods 2008 - Sep 2010
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    • Built internal Food Safety & Quality audit group. Conducted quality and food safety audits across 47 facilities, including preparation for SQF/BRC certification.• Responsible for implementing a company-wide quality policy/procedure development, approval and implementation system.• Developed HACCP, Allergen, Quality Professional, Internal Audit, Behavioral Observation training programs, and rolled out across 47 facilities.• Overall ConAgra coordinator for product recalls and market withdrawals.
  • Conagra Foods
    R&D Director - Product Development
    Conagra Foods 2006 - 2008
    Chicago, Illinois, Us
    Led group of 15 product developers across 30 brands with a total $1.8B net sales (Hunt’s Tomatoes, Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice Soups, PAM, Peter Pan, LaChoy, Wesson oil).• Launched Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers (patent), Hunt’s Fire Roasted tomatoes, RoTel Queso, and Chef Boyardee Ultragrain and sodium reduction products.• Led cross functional team with the goal to double the size of the Hunt’s business over a 5 year period through quality improvements, nutrition enhancements, and big bet innovation.
  • Kraft Foods
    R&D Manager
    Kraft Foods 1997 - 2006
    Greater Chicago Area, Il, Us
    Section Manager, R&D, Sauces/Dressing & Natural/ Process Cheese Innovation (12/04 – 6/06)Led Global Technical Center of Excellence for global sauce and dressings. Launched Miracle Whip product in the Philippines.Led design and launch of innovative new products in the areas of cheese snacking, cheese sauces/cooking applications. Launched new Kraft Crumbles product with 4 cheese blendGroup Leader, Cream Cheese Product Development (3/03 – 12/03)Developed action plans and provided resource planning to deliver against a Cream Cheese productivity savings objective of $5.2MM. Led group through 5 consecutive successful product reformulations (Philadelphia Soft and Brick Cream Cheese) that passed In Home Use Consumer Tests, resulting in superiority scores vs. Private LabelGroup Leader, R&D Design Engineering Group (2/99 – 3/03)Engineering Leader for the cross-functional “Kraft Dairy Team” and responsible for providing plant selection assessments, capital scenarios to optimize project returns, and strategic asset utilization between Divisions. Designed and installed advanced mozzarella shredding system for pizza process.Developed enzyme modified cheese process for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese ($4MM savings).Program Manager for the Slider Zipper Program for Natural Cheese Shreds Bags – responsible for the installation of 13 machines across 3 plants.
  • Florida'S Natural Growers
    Qa Supervisor
    Florida'S Natural Growers 1995 - 1997
    Lake Wales, Fl, Us
     Engineer responsible for leading all projects in the juice blending and filling operation.  Designed and installed aseptic 75 gpm processing and packaging line Installed new juice deaeration unit and optmized pressure/temperature relationship. Designed process for the first Florida’s Natural with Calcium product.

Mark Kavanagh Skills

Food Safety Cross Functional Team Leadership Product Development Food Industry Food Processing Consumer Products R&d Food Science Quality Assurance Management Leadership Ingredients Sqf Engineering Continuous Improvement Food Training Commercialization Customer Insight

Mark Kavanagh Education Details

  • Western University
    Western University
    Chemical Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions about Mark Kavanagh

What company does Mark Kavanagh work for?

Mark Kavanagh works for Once Upon A Farm

What is Mark Kavanagh's role at the current company?

Mark Kavanagh's current role is VP R and D.

What is Mark Kavanagh's email address?

Mark Kavanagh's email address is ma****@****rky.com

What is Mark Kavanagh's direct phone number?

Mark Kavanagh's direct phone number is +123926*****

What schools did Mark Kavanagh attend?

Mark Kavanagh attended Western University.

What skills is Mark Kavanagh known for?

Mark Kavanagh has skills like Food Safety, Cross Functional Team Leadership, Product Development, Food Industry, Food Processing, Consumer Products, R&d, Food Science, Quality Assurance, Management, Leadership, Ingredients.

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