Page 50 - Food&Drink Magazine May 2022

REAR VIEW
The5fast
Each issue we ask industry leaders about their working life. This month we talk to the executive chair of Fënn Foods Nicholas Simms.
1TELL US ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE
I am currently chair of Fënn
Foods, a leading Australian producer of award winning, premium plant-based food brands vEEF and Fënn Foods. All our products are Australian- made with quality 100 per cent natural ingredients, protein- packed and highly delicious.
Fënn Foods was the first company in the world to launch a certified carbon neutral plant-based mince under its vEEF brand. It has been named the Best Sustainable Food Manufacturing Company, Best Eco-Friendly Meat-Free Burgers and was #55 on The Australian Financial Review Fast 100 in 2021.
I am also an advisory board member to Coyo, the world’s first and most awarded certified organic coconut yoghurt brand and leading producer of premium dairy free alternatives.
Coyo’s certified organic, dairy free coconut products are made with 100 per cent natural ingredients that are
plant-based, allergen free, preservative free, and kosher certified. They are also teeming with a unique blend of clinically proven plant powered probiotics we call COYObiotics.
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such I like to focus on building galvanised teams that know what is expected of them, can communicate well, are empowered to deliver focused outcomes, and are accountable as individuals.
To believe more in yourself and trust your entrepreneurial spirit, the world is a big place!
✷ ADVERTISER LIST
ADM Australia 09
Allied Finishes 02
AMS Instrumentation
& Calibration 43
A S Harrison & Co 35
Australasian Medical
& Scientific 31
Combilift Group 13 Foodbank Australia 51 GS1 Australia 27 Heat and Control 11 Hydroflux Industrial 52 IMCD Australia Cover Kerry Taste & Nutrition 21 Mettler-Toledo 33 Process Partners 39 RMR Process 07 Roxset Australia 41 The Van Dyke Press 25 Trimatt Systems 17 Wellman Packaging 15
TELL US YOUR
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT TO DATE I’m extremely proud of my role in building consumer goods Australian businesses and brands, both domestically and in select international markets. Together with the teams I work with, I build value for their shareholders. I was really proud to work with start-up Five:am Organics which we grew to ~$86m trade sale exit in under four years, and transform what was a small private entity Bubs (ASX:BUB) to an ASX Top 500 company.
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3
YOU STILL WANT
TO ACHIEVE?
With plant-based food and beverage categories projected to generate $3 billion in retail sales in Australia alone by 2030, I plan to assist in the realisation of this value; including championing plant-based foods with partners and consumers, exploration of key Australian ingredients and produce, further enable Australian manufacturing capabilities, and continue to build value for shareholders. ✷
WHAT IS YOUR
BIGGEST MISTAKE AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN? Believing that people place the same level of accountability on themselves as I do on myself. As
WHAT WOULD YOU
TELL YOUR 25 YEAR OLD SELF?
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WHAT IS ONE GOAL
50 | Food&Drink business | May 2022 | www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au