MO 100 Top Impact CEO Ranking Honors Lotus Foods CEO Burke
Lotus Foods CEO Andrew Burke has been honored with a 2024 MO 100 Top Impact CEO Ranking. Presented by Big Path Capital, this accolade underscores Burke’s visionary leadership and commitment to driving positive change within the industry.
“This award recognizes the great work being done by every member of our team,” says Burke. “We are dedicated to scaling our impact and building on the legacy that Ken and Caryl began more than 29 years ago.”
Andrew Burke assumed the role of CEO in July 2023, succeeding co-founders Caryl Levine and Ken Lee, who were honored for the same award in 2023 for promoting organic and regenerative rice-growing practices. Levine and Lee continue to serve as visionaries on the board. Since arriving at Lotus Foods in 2019, Burke has adeptly navigated the company through challenging times, including the pandemic, efficiently scaling the business. This transition marks a pivotal moment in Lotus Foods’ nearly three-decade journey, as the company reaffirms its dedication to advancing sustainable and equitable food systems.
Reflecting on Burke’s tenure, Levine and Lee remarked, “Andrew’s leadership has been instrumental in propelling Lotus Foods forward, enhancing revenue streams, and attracting top-tier talent. Andrew’s strategic vision and unwavering commitment make him the ideal candidate to lead the company into its next phase of evolution, expanding regenerative organic agriculture and combating climate change.”
Burke’s recognition takes into account his decades of leadership and relevant industry experience prior to taking up the reins at Lotus Foods, including as CEO of TCHO Chocolate. Alongside fellow honorees, Burke joins the 2024 MO 100 cohort, inspiring and empowering businesses to prioritize impact and purpose. This year’s honorees reflect the burgeoning momentum of companies that prioritize social and environmental responsibility.
Michael Whelchel, founder and CEO of Big Path, lauded the honorees, stating, “The MO 100 Top Impact CEO Ranking celebrates leaders who harness the power of capitalism to foster shared prosperity. These CEOs are driving transformative change, championing a new paradigm of capitalism that prioritizes positive outcomes for all stakeholders.”
The 2024 MO 100 ranking spotlights 100 executives spearheading social and environmental impact within high-growth enterprises. These leaders exemplify the value of stakeholder-focused business models, which prioritize the well-being of shareholders, employees, customers, communities, and the environment alike.
With half the world’s population relying on rice for sustenance, Lotus Foods has long been at the forefront of promoting sustainable rice farming practices and biodiversity. Since its inception in 1995, the company has championed organic farming methods, farmer resilience, and initiatives empowering women. Lotus Foods’ latest Impact Report showcases its ongoing commitment to creating positive change in the industry and in rice-farming communities.
Burke and his fellow honorees will be celebrated at the MO 100 Awards Gala during the 2024 MO CEO Summit, scheduled for April 15-17, 2024, in Austin, Texas. The event will convene 200 purpose-driven CEOs for insightful panels, networking opportunities, and collaborative endeavors.
Since 1995, Lotus Foods has partnered in direct and fair trade with small family farmers around the world who are growing rice more sustainably while preserving rice biodiversity. Lotus Foods’ product line includes pigmented heirloom and organic rice varieties such as Forbidden Rice, Jade Pearl Rice, Red Rice, traditional Basmati and Jasmine Rice and Tri-color Rice as well as Rice Ramen, Pad Thai Rice Noodles and Rice Ramen Noodle Soup Cups. Products are available at major retailers nationwide.
As a certified B Corporation, Lotus Foods is committed to “Changing How Rice Is Grown around the World” by focusing on rice grown using the System of Rice Intensification, which it calls More Crop Per Drop. SRI minimizes water usage, builds soil, empowers women, rewards farmers with higher yields, and reduces climate impact. Lotus Foods’ basmati farmers who use these practices were the first rice farmers ever to be Regenerative Organic Certified and recently achieved the Gold level, making Lotus Foods’ Organic White and Brown Basmati Rice the only ROC Gold certified rice.
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Lotus Foods Promotes Burke to CEO
Lotus Foods, the heirloom and organic rice company, has promoted Andrew Burke to CEO from president/COO. Co-founders Caryl Levine and Ken Lee will remain in their board seats and as visionaries focused on expanding the mission to change the way rice is grown globally. The transition, effective July 2023, is an exciting strategic step in the nearly 30-year history of Lotus Foods as the company positions itself for continued innovation, growth and impact.
Burke, who was the first c-level hire in the history of Lotus Foods when he joined in October 2019, has had direct oversight of all aspects of the company’s operations, supply chain management, finance, marketing and sales functions. Prior to Lotus Foods, Burke gained decades of leadership and relevant industry experience having been CEO of TCHO Chocolate, where he led a new corporate strategy with the goal of efficiently scaling the business. He also held prior senior roles at E&J Gallo Winery, Diamond Foods and Nature Box.
“I’ve had a wonderful four years working with Caryl and Ken and have been humbled to do this important work alongside them,” said Burke. “The entire team at Lotus Foods is united around our mission and committed to growing and innovating. I couldn’t be more honored and excited to continue to scale the impact of Lotus Foods with this group of talented people.”
Levine and Lee will continue their mission-related work and expanding the number of rice growers using System of Rice Intensification regenerative farming techniques. Lee will focus on working with existing and new supply chain partners and supporting advocacy and government relations, while Levine will lend her vision to new product development and innovation as well as nurturing relationships with important partners such as Jubilee Justice, which supports Black farming communities using sustainable methods.
“This has been a transition four years in the making,” explained Levine and Lee. “During Andrew’s tenure, he has successfully steered the company through the turbulent pandemic and post-pandemic years, increasing revenue and recruiting new creative talent. We can’t think of a better person to take on the CEO role as we shift our focus to expanding regenerative organic agriculture globally and fighting the urgent issue of climate change.”
More information about Lotus Foods’ efforts to change the way rice is grown globally can be found in the company’s latest impact report on lotusfoods.com.
Since 1995, Lotus Foods has partnered in direct and fair trade with small family farmers around the world who are growing rice more sustainably while preserving rice biodiversity. Lotus Foods’ product line includes pigmented heirloom and organic rice varieties such as Forbidden Rice, Jade Pearl Rice, Red Rice, traditional Basmati and Jasmine Rice and Tri-color Rice as well as Rice Ramen, Pad Thai Rice Noodles and Rice Ramen Noodle Soup Cups. Products are available at major retailers nationwide.
As a certified B Corporation, Lotus Foods is committed to “Changing How Rice Is Grown around the World” by focusing on rice grown using the System of Rice Intensification, which it calls More Crop Per Drop. SRI minimizes water usage, empowers women, financially rewards farmers and reduces climate impact. As a business co-founded and co-owned by an Asian American, and with a global supply network encompassing family farmers throughout Asia, Lotus Foods stands with the AAPI community and condemns racial violence.
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Kellogg to Split Cereal, Plant-Based Foods Businesses
Kellogg Company‘s board of directors has approved separating its North American cereal and plant-based foods businesses, via tax-free spin-offs, resulting in three independent public companies, each better positioned to unlock their full standalone potential. The three companies, whose names will be determined later, would be the following:
- Global Snacking Co., with about $11.4 billion in net sales, will be a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, and North America frozen breakfast, with iconic, world-class brands and strong underlying growth momentum and profitability;
- North America Cereal Co., with about $2.4 billion in net sales, will be a leading cereal company in the United States, Canada, and Caribbean, with a portfolio of iconic, world-class brands and compelling opportunities for investment and profit growth; and
- Plant Co., with about $340 million in net sales, will be a leading, profitable, pure-play plant-based foods company, anchored by the MorningStar Farms brand, with a significant opportunity to capitalize on strong long-term category prospects by investing further in North America penetration and future international expansion.
“Kellogg has been on a successful journey of transformation to enhance performance and increase long-term shareowner value. This has included re-shaping our portfolio, and today’s announcement is the next step in that transformation,” said Steve Cahillane, chairman and CEO. “These businesses all have significant standalone potential, and an enhanced focus will enable them to better direct their resources toward their distinct strategic priorities. In turn, each business is expected to create more value for all stakeholders, and each is well positioned to build a new era of innovation and growth.”
In recent years, the company has transformed its portfolio into one that has expanded geographically and shifted toward growing businesses, particularly in snacking categories. To achieve this, it has directed resources and investments toward growth categories and markets around the world, made several acquisitions and partnerships in emerging markets, and strengthened its snacks business through acquisitions, divestitures, and the freeing up of resources by exiting from direct-store delivery. The successful execution of these actions has expanded Kellogg’s portfolio, resulting in a scaled global snacking business and significant emerging markets presence, complemented by strong and profitable breakfast and plant-based foods businesses. The outcome of these strategic actions has been improved growth in recent years, with momentum sustained into 2022.
After several years of transformation and improving results, the company believes it is the right time to separate these businesses so they may pursue their particular strategic priorities.
As independent companies, all three businesses will be better positioned to:
- Focus on their distinct strategic priorities, with financial targets that best fit their own markets and opportunities;
- Execute with increased agility and operational flexibility, enabling more focused allocation of capital and resources in a manner consistent with those strategic priorities;
- Realize improved outlooks for profitable growth; and
- Shape distinctive corporate cultures, rooted in Kellogg Company’s strong values, and rewarding career paths for employees of each company.
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