Food manufacturing
10 alternative protein commercialization experts
These ten professionals have held commercial, business development, product or commercialization roles at alternative protein companies, including makers of plant-based, fermentation-derived and cell-cultivated foods. A reader can learn from them how alternative protein companies bring new products to market and scale up production.
Professionals to explore
01—10Amy Klein
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Product CPG Cell Cultivated Meat & Fat · Mission Barns
Former Vice President of Product CPG Cell Cultivated Meat & Fat at Mission Barns (2023–2024), recruited to lead the consumer launch of a cell-cultivated pork fat business; the profile describes achieving cGMP for the company owned food manufacturing plant and refining the global go-to-market business plan. Chief Executive Officer ERRA Certified at ERRA Certified since April 2026.
Jeroen Schweitz
LinkedInExperience: Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) · Enifer
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Enifer since October 2024, a company the profile describes as using patented technology to upcycle side stream carbon into high value mycoprotein derived from fungi. Other roles include Sales Pet Food Director at Ÿnsect (2022–2024) and Business Development Manager Food & Pet at Ÿnsect (2019–2022).
Melissa Torok
LinkedInExperience: VP of Commercial · Onego Bio
VP of Commercial at Onego Bio since December 2024, driving US commercialization of a bioidentical, animal-free egg white protein made through precision fermentation and building partnerships with food and beverage companies. Also Head of Commercial at Phusis Bio since February 2023, and former VP of Marketing and Commercial at The EVERY Company (2021–2022).
Mindy Cope
LinkedInExperience: Commercialization Manager · Beyond Meat
Commercialization Manager at Beyond Meat since October 2021, and former Process Engineer at Beyond Meat (2019–2021). Other roles include Product Development Scientist at popchips (2017–2018) and Scientist at The J.M. Smucker Co. (2015–2017). The profile describes 20+ years of experience in plant-based, snack and pet food product development and commercialization.
Nicholas M. Toriello
LinkedInExperience: Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) · The EVERY Company
Former Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at The EVERY Company (2023–2026) and VP, Head of Partnerships there (2022–2023), where the profile describes leading commercial operations for a company that makes and sells animal-free food proteins. Other roles include General Manager, Mylo at Bolt Threads (2020–2022) and General Manager at Novozymes (2013–2019).
Paavo Salminen
LinkedInExperience: Chief Business Development Officer · Onego Bio
Chief Business Development Officer at Onego Bio, a biotech scaleup producing animal-free egg white protein with precision fermentation, since November 2022. Other roles include International Business Development Sysco Key Account at Gold&Green Foods Ltd (2019–2022) and Senior Vice President - Consumer Products and Technology Sales New Markets at Valio (2016–2019).
Robin Simsa
LinkedInExperience: Head of Commercial · Revo Foods
Head of Commercial at Revo Foods since October 2025, and former CEO and Founder there (2019–2025). The profile describes Revo Foods as a foodtech company working mainly on alternative proteins that developed a new food production process based on 3D manufacturing and brought it from prototype to industrial scale.
Samah Garringer
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Business Unit Director - Proteins of the Future · DSM
Former Vice President, Business Unit Director - Proteins of the Future at DSM (2020–2024) and former Chief Commercial Officer - Member of the Executive Management Team at ENOUGH (2024–2026). Chief Executive Officer of MAASH since September 2026, where the profile describes scaling LoCylia, a fermentation-derived mycoprotein, from demonstration to full industrial production. Other roles include Senior Director - Protein Solutions at Avril (2016–2019).
Troy A. Walton
LinkedInExperience: VP of Commercialization · Beyond Meat
Former VP of Commercialization at Beyond Meat (2021) and former VP of Protein Research & Technology there (2021–2025). Other Beyond Meat roles include Vice President of Plant Protein Research (2020–2021) and Director of Process Development (2018–2020), and VP of Protein Innovation at Mozza Foods is listed since June 2026. The profile describes translating protein chemistry into commercially successful food products and partnering with CSO-level leadership in executing product launches.
Willem Spigt
LinkedInExperience: Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) · Rival Foods
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Rival Foods since January 2024, and former Sales Manager there (2023–2024); the profile describes Rival Foods as a plant-based startup making whole-cut specialties. Former Business Development Manager Alternative Proteins at Zandbergen World's Finest Meat (2016–2023).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's protein technology and route to market to your own, since selling a plant-based consumer brand into grocery differs from selling a fermentation-derived ingredient to food manufacturers. Also consider whether you need commercial and partnership experience or hands-on product and process commercialization experience, since these roles solve different problems.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you pick the first customers or channels for a new alternative protein product?
- 02What do food manufacturers and retailers need to see before they commit to an alternative protein product or ingredient?
- 03How do you plan pricing and production scale when costs are still above conventional protein?
Reaching alternative protein commercialization experts
How can I contact one of these alternative protein commercialization experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including Mission Barns, Enifer and Onego Bio, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach alternative protein commercialization experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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