Caulipower evolution continues with appointment of new CEO
Vegetable-based frozen food manufacturer Caulipower has named veteran industry investor Tyler Ricks as its new CEO. The move is part of the continuing evolution of the company, founded by a mother looking to help her sons, on a path of industry growth and product innovation.
Ricks has been a member of the company’s board of directors since 2022 and most recently worked with beverage brand Super Coffee, according to a news release. Trained in brand management at PepsiCo, he also worked with companies including Plum Organics, Bear Naked Granola, Yasso Frozen Greek Yogurt and Wholesome Sweeteners through growth and acquisition periods.
“Tyler’s exemplary leadership skills and experience are the perfect fit for Caulipower and our next phase of growth driven by innovation,” Gail Becker, Caulipower founder, said in the release. “With his 30 years of experience across food and beverage, and half of that time focused on premium better-for- you brands, the company could not be in more reliable hands.”
Ricks has held four CEO titles and 15 board seats while investing in more than 40 businesses, according to the release. He has helped lead startups along with established companies such as Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, which has 1,200 locations and $650 million in revenue.
“Gail is a unique breed of founder who built an award- winning $120 million-plus brand from nothing in very little time by disrupting a category where consumers were desperate for new choices,” Ricks said. “I am looking forward to partnering with her and continuing to benefit from her insights across brand, innovation and sales.
“Caulipower has already accomplished so much, but what excites me most is the future growth potential of the brand and leading this outstanding team.”
Marc Seguin, who led the company over the last two years during a transitional period which included nine product launches in the last year, will step down, according to the release.
“On behalf of the Caulipower board of directors and all our employees, I would like to thank Marc for his contributions and wish him the best,” Ricks said.
Caulipower’s gluten-free products, including frozen pizzas and pizza crusts, pasta and chicken, can be found in 25,000 stores nationwide, according to the company.
EVOLUTION OF A BRAND
Ricks’ appointment is the latest news for an industry disruptor which began as a mom’s search for a solution. Becker founded Caulipower to help provide nutritious options for her two sons with Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease which renders sufferers unable to process gluten, according to the company’s website.
“Imagine a world in which you could walk down the frozen aisle at the grocery store and choose from countless options of delicious meals that are all better-for-you and still ready in minutes,” the company’s online mission statement reads. “At Caulipower, our mission is to make this dream a reality. By revolutionizing the use of vegetables in our food, eating healthy no longer has to be a compromise.”
According to its website, Caulipower strives to create frozen foods with easily readable and understandable ingredient labels and better-for-you meals that can be quickly prepared.
The company also said it believes in “the power of frozen” and that “the freezer aisle should be celebrated — not feared” and encourages consumers to “Join the VEGolution.”
In September 2022, the company launched chickpea- and cauliflower-coated chicken nuggets. That followed the March 202 introduction of three varieties of Breakfast Scrambles: broccoli cheddar, southwest and spicy sesame.
Caulipower premiered its stone-fired cauliflower crust pizza in May 2021 and introduced a bigger version with new flavors in August of that year.
The company’s first line of ready-to-cook cauliflower- based foods launched in January 2017.
Caulipower ranked No. 2 in the food category on Fast Company’s 2022 list of World’s Most Innovative Food Companies. Its curried rice cauliflower cups were named the best flavored vegetable in Prevention magazine’s 2021 Healthy Food Awards, and its Baja-style riced cauliflower was named the best new product in the 11th annual Gluten Free Awards in 2020.
