Cultivated Meat Startup Clever Carnivore Hires VP Product Development
The Clever Bratwurst is one bite closer to your grocer’s meat department. Clever Carnivore, a Chicago-based biotech startup working to bring cultivated meat — pork, beef and chicken — to consumers, has hired Russell Thomas, MSc, as vice president of product development. A triple-decade food scientist with expertise in food safety, product development and operations management, Thomas will accelerate the development of Clever Carnivore’s debut consumer product, the Clever Bratwurst.
“Russell’s experience as director of research and development at Tyson is a huge asset to Clever Carnivore as we aim to unveil our prototype product later this year,” said Clever Carnivore CEO Virginia Rangos, Ph.D.
Thomas’ resume includes a bachelor’s in animal science and business and a master’s in poultry science and product technology from the University of Arkansas. Most recently, Thomas served as vice president of product development with a Silicon Valley cultivated fat company founded in late 2010.
Prior to that, during Thomas’ more than 33 years at Tyson Foods, one of the largest food companies in the U.S., he served as manager, then director of research and development.
Thomas’ hiring represents a milestone for Clever Carnivore. The addition of an experienced executive with demonstrated success bringing innovative products to the global market propels Clever Carnivore into the exciting prototype development stage. Leveraging his decades of accomplishments in the food sciences, Thomas will spearhead the creation of a delicious, accessible product line — starting with sausages.
“I’m excited about joining Clever Carnivore,” said Thomas. “I entered the food industry more than three decades ago because I believe there’s no greater way to serve humanity than by working to provide accessible, sustainable food to people. The technology being developed by Clever Carnivore aligns with that mission.”
Clever Carnivore has been focused on scaling meat production and bringing costs down — producing high-quality pork at consumer-ready prices. With Thomas on the team, the company is ready to start turning pork into bratwurst. Clever Carnivore’s cost and scale advantages put Thomas on track to cook up something delicious.
Clever Carnivore’s headquarters and lab are located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. Thomas’ appointment is effective immediately.
Clever Carnivore, Chicago’s first cultivated meat company, is a mission-driven startup deploying cutting-edge biotechnology to bring low-cost, top-quality cultivated pork, beef and chicken to the consumer market. Using Clever Carnivore’s high-efficiency model, cruelty-free, sustainable and cost-competitive sausages, burgers and chicken nuggets will soon be a reality. The company works to develop cultivated meat products using cell biology, recombinant protein technology and advanced bioreactor design, with the objective of creating consumer products that compete on taste, price and convenience with conventional meat, delivering a gastronomic experience that satisfies vegetarians and carnivores alike.
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Niman Ranch Calls Prop 12 Ruling ‘Watershed Moment for Animal Welfare’
Chipotle Young Farmers Initiative full rights photography
Niman Ranch, the humane animal care leader, today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on Proposition 12.
“This is a truly watershed moment for animal welfare. Since day one, Niman Ranch has been one of the only companies to ban the use of crates for raising hogs and today our more than 500 independent family farmer partners proudly raise their pigs 100 percent crate free. We applaud the Supreme Court’s decision and this historic moment for humane animal care.”
– Chris Oliviero, General Manager, Niman Ranch
California’s Proposition 12, passed in 2018, requires farmers to provide more space for egg-laying hens, breeding pigs and calves raised for veal including that these animals be able to stand up, lie down, turn around and extend their limbs. It would also ban the sale of products in the state that do not meet the new standards. On May 11, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Proposition 12 as constitutional.
Niman Ranch is a network of independent family farmers and ranchers raising pork, beef and lamb humanely and sustainably, with no antibiotics or added hormones—ever. Niman Ranch is the largest farmer and rancher network in North America to be Certified Humane, an animal welfare certification considered rigorous and meaningful by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The company has always been 100 percent crate free and goes much further with animals raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens, with no tail docking, teeth clipping or other standard industry practices.
Niman Ranch is the only pork company to submit an Amicus Brief to the Supreme Court in support of Proposition 12. Its products are available at values driven restaurants and grocers across the country. Customers include Shake Shack, Chipotle and ButcherBox.
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‘Wienermobile of Love’ Awaits Wedding Couples in Las Vegas
Oscar Mayer, the brand known for uniting millions over a love of meat, announced the opportunity for soon-to-be-newlyweds to exchange vows in hot-dog bliss. Designed to subvert the seriousness of stressful wedding planning and highlight the joy weddings should bring, fans across the country may sign up to wed at the first “Wienermobile of Love,” a limited-time chapel conveniently located in the elopement mecca of the country: Las Vegas, baby!
Weddings are often described as the happiest day of couples’ lives, but getting to that point is not always a cakewalk. Between rising costs, large guest lists and oh-so-many opinions, 72 percent of couples report feeling stressed about planning the big day, according to the Zola Wedding Planning 2022 Survey.
Oscar Mayer is bringing some much-needed relief by providing couples the chance to trade in the hoopla of a traditional wedding in favor of something stress-free and fun: an elopement to the Wienermobile outside the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. The weddings will take place on April 15 and 16, where lucky couples w’ill be treated to a unique all-expenses-paid ceremony and wed by Oscar Mayer’s beloved Hotdoggers!
“From proposals and surprise meat-ups down the aisle to playing matchmaker to some of our own Hotdoggers, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has held a special place in fans’ hearts – so much so, we receive thousands of requests each and every year to be part of couples’ big days,” said Ed Roland, senior manager brand communications for Oscar Mayer at The Kraft Heinz Company. “Now, as more people seek stress-free ceremonies with their partners, our Hotdoggers are thrilled to reignite the joy of this special day and give them a once-in-a-lifetime experience: a wedding through a pair of meat-colored glasses.”
Oscar Mayer has a legacy of sparking smiles and bringing levity to the everyday, particularly when things have gotten too serious. From the famed “Oh I Wish” jingle to the iconic bologna face mask, it’s been love at first bite for generations of Americans. The “Wienermobile of Love” is a natural extension of Oscar Mayer’s iconic brand platform, “Keep It Oscar,” focused on saving people from taking things too seriously, freeing people up to enjoy themselves with seriously delicious meats. From a live wiener whistle quartet to a wonderfully odd wiener cake, the 27-foot hot dog on wheels and its Hotdoggers will be dressed to impress, serving up a unique, joyful wedding experience only Oscar Mayer can.
Hot dog lovers across the nation may sign up on OscarMayer.com, available on a first come first serve basis. Bring your marriage license and appetite – Hotdoggers will “meat” you down the aisle.
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