Sproud Names Bill Lange as General Manager of North America
Swedish plant milk maker Sproud announced this week that it has hired industry veteran Bill Lange as its General Manager for North America, responsible for overseeing the brand’s retail growth strategy.
Launched in Europe in 2018 and in the U.S. last year, Sproud produces a line of shelf-stable milk alternatives made from yellow split peas. The brand, which raised $6.5 million from VGC Partners in January, is available in Sprouts, Meijer and, most recently, 65 Whole Foods Market stores across Southern California. The products are also sold on Amazon.
Lange has held a number of sales and marketing positions at startup beverage brands, including Zico, KeVita and Pressed Juicery. He served as VP of marketing for Campbell’s C-Fresh division from 2016 to 2019 where he oversaw the launch of Bolthouse Farms’ plant milk line made with pea protein and most recently served as CMO of Oxigen from 2019 to 2020.
Speaking to BevNET today, Lange said Sproud delayed its initial U.S. expansion plans during the pandemic last year, taking a slower approach to entering new retailers, but the company is now using its recent funding to build out its sales and marketing team — Lange being just “the first puzzle piece,” he said.
While the U.S. dairy alternative category has experienced disruption from fellow Swedish import Oatly over the past several years, Lange believes Sproud can also be a significant player, focusing on the dry shelf. This subcategory has become a target for other emerging plant milk brands in recent months: In November, Mooala announced a line of shelf-stable non-dairy milks and creamers aimed at expanding the brand’s presence into new aisles.
“The shelf-stable plant-based milk category has been lesser known in the past, but we’re seeing a lot of movement there,” Lange said. “If you just look at SPINS data, the shelf-stable category was up 30% over the latest 52 weeks, it was up in all markets. So it’s not like this is just an L.A. or an Austin phenomenon. We’re really starting to see the growth.”
Lange added his past experience in the category with Bolthouse Farms’ plant milk line will also serve Sproud well. He said he believed the product was ahead of its time, but consumers are now becoming more aware of pea protein and Sproud will seek to grow education and awareness. Another benefit to using peas, he said, is its taste profile, which offers consumers more versatility.
“The Sproud team have developed such a clean, pure neutral taste,” he said. “So whether you’re baking, cooking, blending, putting it in your coffee, it’s not going to change the flavor of what you’re making.”
LeafLine Industries Hires Scott Schilling as CEO
Medical cannabis and CBD wellness company LeafLine Industries has named Scott Schilling as CEO, the Minnesota-based company announced in a press release.
Schilling comes to LeafLine from Prestige Beverage Group, where he had served as general manager and CMO since January 2020. He previously was an 18 year veteran at Diageo, ultimately serving as the company’s SVP, Head of Innovation for North America.
“I’m excited to take on the role of CEO at this inflection point for both LeafLine’s business and America’s maturing cannabis industry,” Schilling said in the release. “LeafLine is well-positioned in the marketplace as one of only two Minnesota companies with a license to produce, process, and distribute medical cannabis, and also manufactures two national CBD wellness brands with a strong retail presence. I’m honored to join such an incredibly talented team. I certainly share their passion for democratizing plant-based wellness.”
Talking Rain Promotes Blankenship to VP of People
Talking Rain Beverage Company, the maker of Sparkling Ice, has promoted Veronica Blankenship to VP of People, overseeing the company’s human resources department.
Blankenship has spent 11 years with Talking Rain, beginning as a payroll and benefits administrator, according to LinkedIn, and most recently serving as its director of people. According to a press release, she will lead cross-departmental collaborations and provide support in hiring, retainment and personnel development.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the People team as Vice President and to continue growing with the Talking Rain family during such an important time for the company’s evolution,” Blankenship said in a press release. “I’m thrilled to be a part of such an innovative and dynamic leadership team.”
Frey Farms Names New Head of Beverage
Frey Farms has named Debbie Wildrick as president of its beverage division, Orchardville, LLC, the company announced in a press release. Frey Farms currently has two beverage brands: Tsamma Watermelon Juice and Sarah’s Homegrown (which includes agua frescas, teas and lemonades).
Wildrick brings over 30 years of food and beverage industry experience to the role, including leadership roles at 7-Eleven and Tropicana North America, and is a strategic advisor for product development firm Metabrand.
Fresh Victor Hires Boston Beer Co. Vet
Fresh Victor, the maker of a line of cold-pressed juice-based cocktail mixers, has hired Shawn Love as its On-Premise Sales Manager, the company announced this week in a press release. Love comes to the company from The Boston Beer Company, where he served as senior national account manager.
“I was blessed to be a part of Boston Beer since the early days of 1995,” Love said in the release “Being instrumental in the growth of that brand from when I started to the powerhouse it is today is amazing. Fresh Victor and Boston Beer share three key pillars: great product, great people, and great culture!”