Dive Brief:

• Plant-based dairy maker Miyoko’s Creamery appointed Stuart Kronauge as its next CEO.
• Prior to taking the helm of Miyoko’s, Kronauge was the CEO of The Juice Plus+, a nutrition company. She also has worked at Beyond Meat as its chief marketing officer and at Coca-Cola for more than a decade under a variety of positions.
• The appointment comes after Miyoko’s settled a bitter legal battle earlier this year with its former CEO and founder, Miyoko Schinner.

Dive Insight:

With the plant-based industry facing headwinds, and Miyoko’s recovering from its recent legal turmoil, Kronauge will have a lot on her plate as she steps into the CEO seat.

With two decades at beverage giant Coca-Cola, Kronauge brings deep insights into the consumer. Additionally, her retail marketing experience at Beyond Meat will provide her with a unique perspective into what shoppers in the plant-based arena are looking for in the products they consume.

The plant-based segment has struggled recently due to higher costs compared to its conventional animal-based counterpart, as well as questions about the quality of its offerings when it comes to taste and texture. The macroeconomic environment has placed further pressure on the segment as consumers are being particularly cost-conscious when shopping.

Kronauge has been a customer of Miyoko’s Creamery for years, as well as a plant-based eater, giving her a deeper understanding of the company’s consumer base, according to the release. This should provide her with an immediate advantage as she takes over Miyoko’s.

“Her passion for the industry and operational skillset, coupled with her mission-based approach, allows for great momentum and brand growth in a category that continues to celebrate innovation and new disruptors,” said James Joaquin, Miyoko’s Creamery board member, on the appointment. 

Schinner started the company in 2014, before being removed from her position by the company’s board. A contentious legal battle ensued until May of this year when both parties announced they had settled all legal disputes and withdrawn all claims.

The company is “thrilled to welcome Stuart to the Miyoko’s team and are confident in her abilities to lead the brand through its next exciting chapter,” Joaquin said.