Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top York based Director operating in the Food and Beverage space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Jay Brown
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Marcy Venture Partners
Jay Brown has served as a member of our Board since January 2014. Jay Brown, a 20-year music industry executive veteran, fostered the careers and discovered countless superstars including Rihanna and Ne-Yo and worked with artists such as NAS. Jay Brown is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roc Nation, a full-service entertainment company started in 2008. Mr. Brown currently overseas the careers of a diverse Roc Nation roster comprised of Grammy award winning and critically acclaimed recording artists, writers and producers including Rihanna, Shakira, Timbaland, Kylie Minogue and Santigold. Prior to Roc Nation, Mr. Brown served as Executive Vice President for Def Jam Recordings from 2005 to 2008 and as Senior Vice President of Elektra Records from 1999 to 2004. Our Board has concluded that Mr. Brown should serve on the Board based upon his experience as an entrepreneur and senior executive and his broad knowledge of the music and entertainment industries.
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About Marcy Venture Partners, Roc Nation: Marcy Venture Partners is a venture capital firm investing on consumer, culture, and mass-market brands.
Henry Mori
Engineering Director, B2B & D2C eCommerce of PepsiCo
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About PepsiCo: PepsiCo operates as a food and beverage company worldwide.
Jenny Tran
Title Director of Brand Strategy and Design, Global Innovation of PepsiCo
Jenny Tran is a Creative Lead in Experience Design across various new brands across the PepsicCo Portfolio including Lemon Lemon , IZZE, and is Global Design Lead for LIFEWTR. She is part of the PepsiCo Design and Innovation team based in Manhattan, New York.
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About PepsiCo: PepsiCo operates as a food and beverage company worldwide.
Cory Notric
Senior Director of Global Brand Protection of PepsiCo
Cory Notrica is a senior director of global brand protection at PepsiCo.
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About PepsiCo: PepsiCo operates as a food and beverage company worldwide.
Ashlyn Gentry
Managing Director, NewCo of Human Ventures
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About Human Ventures: Human Ventures is a business creation platform, comprised of a venture fund, studio and enterprise agency.
Michael Tilley
Associate Director, Shopper Marketing & Strategic Partnerships of Mondelez International
Michael Tilley oversees shopper marketing and strategic partnerships at Mondelez International, linking customer strategies and shopper insights with brand strategies and consumer insights. The global snacks company includes Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Ritz and other worldwide brands. Tilley’s marketing experience spans 25 years at PepsiCo, Nabisco, Kraft and Mondelez International. A Southern Illinois University graduate, Tilley serves as executive in residence at its business school. He is also a faculty member of the Path to Purchase Institute.
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About Mondelez International: Mondelez International is a branded food and beverage company that specializes in snack foods such as biscuits, chocolate, gum, and candies.
Dev Kabir Malik
Creative Director of Bira 91
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About Bira 91: Bira 91 is an India-based craft beer company that develops and produces several different varieties of craft beer.
Meryl Natow
Co-Founder, Creative Director of Chirps Chips (Six Foods)
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About Chirps Chips (Six Foods): Chirps Chips is a creating edible insect foods for healthyeating and sustainability.
L. Kevin Cox
Board Of Director of Kraft Heinz
Mr. Cox was appointed to The Kraft Heinz Company board of directors effective July 2015 and previously served on the Kraft board from October 2012 to July 2015. Mr. Cox has served as Chief Human Resources Officer of American Express Company, a global provider of payment solutions and travel-related services for consumers and businesses, since April 2005. Prior to that, he spent 16 years at PepsiCo, Inc., a food and beverage company, and The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., a beverage manufacturing company, where he served in a variety of leadership positions in strategy, business development, technology and human resources. Mr. Cox is currently a director of CEB Inc. and was formerly a director of the Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Mr. Cox received a Bachelor’s Degree from Marshall University and a Master of Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University.
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About : The Kraft Heinz Company is the third-largest food and beverage company in North America
Mark Roberts
Founder & Director of Beer Hawk
Mark Roberts, co-founder of Beer Hawk, the UK’s leading craft beer retailer, is a rare breed of entrepreneur who masters uniting board-level B2C marketing experience with e-commerce and digital innovation. Before embarking on his own entrepreneurial journey, Mark built his commercial and innovation skills at a number of global and blue-chip companies including Direct Wines, Lloyds Banking Group, HBOS and Procter & Gamble. He has led Beer Hawk on a consistent fast-track growth trajectory over the past 7 years from nothing to a turnover of £20million this year. In 2016 Beer Hawk became part of ZX Ventures.
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About Beer Hawk, ZX Ventures: Beer Hawk is a specialist online retailer of bottled beer.
Rocco Strazza
Senior Director Finance & Operations of Direct Eats
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About Direct Eats: Direct Eats is a distributor and provider in the online food industry.
Alanna Weifenbach
Finance Director, Metals and Trade & Capital Markets of Cargill
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About Cargill: Cargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services.
Belen Pamukoff
Brand Director Tecate and Tecate Light of Heineken
Belen Pamukoff is a brand director at Heineken USA.
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About Heineken: The world’s most international premium beer.
Frank Curci
Director & Chief Executive Officer of Tops Markets
Frank Curci has been the Chairman of the Board at Tops Holding II Corporation since December 1, 2013 and its Chief Executive Officer. Curci serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Tops MBO Corp. He has been the Chief Executive Officer of Tops Markets, LLC since December 2007 and as its Chairman of the Board since 2013. He serves as Managing Member of Tops PT, LLC and Chief Executive Officer of TOPS GIFT CARD COMPANY LLC. He serves as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tops Markets II Corporation. He served as the President of Tops Markets, LLC from 2007 to October 2015. He has 25 years of supermarket experience. Curci served as the President of Tops Holding II Corporation since December 2007 until October 5, 2015. He served as President of Tops Markets, LLC. He served as Chief Operating Officer of Giant Food, Inc. since June 25, 2003, a subsidiary of C&S Wholesale Grocers, where he led the start-up of two chains emphasizing the neighborhood grocery store format and also served as Chief Operating Officer of Southern Family Markets, LLC. At Ahold from 1995 to 2003, he held senior leadership positions at the BI-LO chain in South Carolina and Edwards Super Food stores on the East Coast. Curci also spent nine years at Mayfair Supermarkets, which operated as Foodtown in New Jersey. He has been Director of Tops Holding II Corporation (Tops Holding Corporation) since December 2007 and serves as Director of Tops Gift Card Company, LLC. He serves as a Director at Tops MBO Corp. He served as Director of TOPS MARKETS LLC, Managing Member of Tops PT, LLC. Curci earned an M.B.A and a B.A. Degrees from Rutgers University.
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About Tops Markets: Tops Markets operates as a full-service grocery retailer.
Rosemary L. Ripley
Managing Director of NGEN Partners
Rosemary L. Ripley is a Managing Director of NGEN. Ms. Ripley joined NGEN as an Entrepreneur in Residence in 2006 and shortly thereafter joined the board of EnviroTower. Ms. Ripley brings to NGEN substantial experience in strategic planning, acquisitions and public and private market transactions. Responsible for Corporate Business Development at Altria Group (previously Philip Morris Companies) from 1990-2005, Ms. Ripley helped spearhead and execute numerous expansionary growth plans for the operating companies. She led teams that invested heavily in Central and Eastern Europe and Asia and transformed Kraft Foods with the $19 billion acquisition of Nabisco and subsequent $8.5 billion initial public offering. Ms. Ripley also developed the strategy and led the transformation of Miller Brewing Company from a domestic business to part of an international enterprise with the merger with South African Breweries. Prior to joining Altria, Ms. Ripley was a Managing Director at Furman Selz, responsible for the Retail and Consumer Group, and prior to that was a senior investment banker at L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin where she also ran the Retail and Consumer Group. Ms. Ripley co-founded Circle Financial Group, a multi-family office, and sits on the Advisory Board of the Chicago Climate Exchange. Ms. Ripley received both her BA, cum laude, and MBA at Yale University.
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About NGEN Partners, Nlyte Software, Zevia: NGEN Partners is an active venture investor committed to backing world class entrepreneurs.
Phil Chao
Director of Operations of BodyArmor
Phil Chao is the Director of Operations at BA Sports Nutrition.
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About BodyArmor: BA Sports Nutrition produces and sells sports drinks that provide hydration for consumers.
Steven Ioannou
National Sales Director, Co-Founder of Nounos Creamery
Steven Ioannou is the national sales director and the co-founder of Nounos Creamery.
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About Nounos Creamery: Nounos Creamery produces Greek yogurt using the locally sourced ingredients in New York.
Denise Clark
Board of Director of United Natural Foods
Denise M. Clark has served as a member of the Board of Directors since February 2013. Ms. Clark has also served as the Senior Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since November 2012. Prior to that role, Ms. Clark served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Hasbro Inc. from October 2007 to November 2012. Ms. Clark also served at Mattel, Inc., where she was Global Chief Technology Officer and later Chief Information Officer for the Fisher Price brand between January 2000 and February 2007. Ms. Clark’s previous experience includes two other consumer goods companies, Warner Music Group, formerly a division of Time Warner Inc., and Apple Inc.
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About : UNFI is the leading independent national distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods and related products.
Camille Baldwin
Director of Brand Development of Gin Lane
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About Gin Lane: At Gin Lane, we’re creating, growing, and guiding the next generation of consumer-facing companies.
Jonathan Segal
Director & CEO of The ONE Group
Jonathan Segal brings over 35 years of experience in developing and operating hotels, bars and hospitality projects to the Company. Segal has served as CEO of One Group since he co-founded it in 2004 in order to open ONE, a pioneering restaurant in the Meatpacking District of New York. Segal began his career in the hospitality industry at age 16 with his family’s company, currently known as Modern Hotels in Jersey, Channel Islands, U.K., the largest leisure company in the Channel Islands. He eventually became the managing director of the group’s hotel division. Segal has overseen the development of upwards of 50 venues globally, including the 19 venues currently owned, operated or managed by One Group. In June 2013, Jonathan won an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2013 New York award and is a finalist for the national award in November 2013. Segal began serving as a Class III member of our board of directors beginning on October 16, 2013.
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About The ONE Group: The ONE Group develops and operates upscale, high-energy restaurants and lounges.
Sean Flynn
Director of Programs of Points North Institute
Sean Flynn is a Co-Founder and Program Director at the Points North Institute, a media arts organization that produces the Camden International Film Festival and other artist support programs that serve as a launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. Sean received a master’s degree from MIT’s Comparative Media Studies department, where he worked as a researcher at the MIT Open Documentary Lab. Sean began his career in documentary as a producer and cinematographer working on two feature-length films, BEYOND BELIEF and THE LIST, both of which had their premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival and aired on national television. In 2012, Sean was a Fulbright Senior Research Fellow in Mumbai, where he investigated the emergence of the slum tourism industry. In 2015, he was selected for the NAMAC Creative Leadership Lab.
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About Points North Institute: Points North Institute is a Producer of the Camden Film Festival.
Vanessa Jaikaran
Director of Field Marketing of True Made Foods
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About True Made Foods: True Made Foods radically improved Ketchup, BBQ Sauce and Sriracha. Removing the corn syrup and sugar and adding veggies instead.
Ben Brachot
Co-Founder, Managing Director of Dwight Funding
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About Dwight Funding: Working Capital Lending for Growth Stage Consumer and DTC Businesses
Kenneth Grogan
Director – Treasury Services of Wakefern Food Corp.
Ken is a Finance professional with over 30 years’ experience in Treasury/Payments. Ken joined Wakefern Food Corp. in July 2007 as Manager of Treasury Services and was promoted to Director in 2015. Prior to joining Wakefern Ken had a successful 20 year career on Wall Street working in Treasury for Shearson Lehman Brothers, National Financial Services (Fidelity Investments) and TD Waterhouse. Ken has a BBA in Accounting from Pace University in New York City.
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About Wakefern Food Corp.: Wakefern Food Corp. is employing an innovative approach to wholesale business services.
Charlie Gower
Founding Director of The Nue Co.
Charlie Gower is the Founder of The Nue Co.
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About The Nue Co., WorksHub: The Nue Co. deliver supplements made from foods.
Roe Shani
Founder & Art Director of cups
Roe Shami is Founder, Art Director at CUPS.
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About cups, eko: cups is on a mission to rethink independent business in the specialty coffee industry.
Alex Corbacho
Director of Paine Schwartz Partners
Alex Corbacho is a Director of Paine Schwartz Partners. Mr. Corbacho joined Paine Schwartz Partners in 2012. Mr. Corbacho began his career at UBS Investment Bank in the firm’s Leveraged Finance Origination Group. While there, he worked to provide debt financing, capital structure solutions and advisory services for a variety of companies and financial sponsors, including Paine Schwartz Partners. Alex serves on the board of directors of Verisem and Verdesian Life Sciences. He is a graduate of Boston University (Bachelor of Science in business administration, cum laude) and was raised in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
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About Paine Schwartz Partners: Paine Schwartz Partners is a private equity firm specializing in sustainable food chain investing.
John Binde
Operating Director of Paine Schwartz Partners
Mr. John Binde joined Paine & Partners, LLC as Operating Director in 2014. Mr. Binde has until he joined Paine & Partner held the CEO position of Norway Royal Salmon ASA for the past ten years. NRS is a publicly listed company on Oslo Stock Exchange. The company is a fully integrated salmon farming company operating 26 fully owned licenses and exporting salmon to more than 50 countries, and with annual revenue of 400 million USD. Market CAP increased from 10 to 370 million USD during his ten years at the helm through acquisitions, mergers, sales and IPO. Mr John Binde holds an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. He has extensive experience from executive positions in various lines of businesses, most of them very internationally oriented. Experience includes strategic development of companies through establishment of new operations, mergers, acquisitions, sales and IPOs. John Binde has held a number of directorships in various organizations.
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About Paine Schwartz Partners: Paine Schwartz Partners is a private equity firm specializing in sustainable food chain investing.
Jessica Rosen
Director Of Brand Development of Raw Generation
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About Raw Generation: Raw Generation is a best online cleanses, juices & smoothies available online for delivery anywhere in US.
Anthony Masek
Founding Member- Director Of Partnerships of Grabz
Anthony was born in Missouri. He has over 10 years of experience in the food industry. After experiencing massive food waste within the industry, he turned to solve the huge problem instead of adding to it. His two passions are people and food and he is convinced that Grabz is on its way to bettering the existence of both. Someday he hopes to one day live off the grid and return to a place like his grandfather’s farm to raise and grow his own food. He will be spending a lot of time at farms, farmers markets, and speaking with farmers about their issues and coming up with resolutions. I initially moved to New York because it’s the food mecca of the world. I dove right into the startup scene working for great food/tech startups like Savory. I was learning a lot about New York’s food culture, but I was also learning about New York’s wasteful behaviors. This is when I met Teymour and started doing my waste research. I knew right away that Grabz was something that I could really stand behind and drive my passion to make a difference in the world.
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About Grabz: Grabz reduces food waste by connecting merchants to consumers in local communities through an online farmers market.
Samantha Wasser
Co-Founder and Creative Director of By Chloe
Samantha Wasser has built her career specializing in the development of fast-casual brands. With an eye for design and unique ability to create a brand, Samantha oversees the branding, design, digital, social, expansion and more. In 2014, Samantha launched Horchata de Nueva York in NYC’s Greenwich Village. In 2015, Samantha founded by CHLOE., an award-winning, plant-based, fast-casual brand that has grown to 8 locations in NYC, LA, Boston, Providence, RI and London. In 2016, Samantha co-founded The Sosta with chef Ali LaRaia, a fast-casual Italian brand that opened in NYC’s Nolita in Summer 2017. In Spring 2018, Samantha will open her latest fast-casual concept, DEZ, offering a modern middle eastern menu in NYC’s Soho neighborhood in partnership with Chef Eden Grinshpan. A graduate of George Washington University, Samantha has been recognized as one of Zagat’s “30 Under 30” and one of INC Magazine’s “30 Under 30” for her work in restaurant development.
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About By Chloe: By Chloe is a fast-casual vegan restaurant based in New York City.
Jason Nelson
Director of Operations of Tayst Coffee
Jason Nelson is the director of operations at Tayst Coffee.
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About Tayst Coffee: Tayst Coffee provides premium, 100% biodegradable and compostable coffee beans at a reasonable cost compatible with K Cup brewers.
Anton Ljunggren
Director of Global Innovation of PepsiCo Canada ULC
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About PepsiCo Canada ULC: PepsiCo Canada ULC is produces food and snack, and beverage products.
Anielle Marie Troyan
Director of tasting program of Brooklyn Gin
For the last three years, I’ve worked as a core team member for Brooklyn Gin: a handcrafted small batch spirit made with fresh citrus peels and hand cracked juniper berries. I represent Brooklyn Gin at various events across the five boroughs and I conduct one of a kind tastings, in store, at our New York City accounts. My focus is on product awareness and brand building using photography and social media.
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About Brooklyn Gin: Brooklyn Gin is a craft spirit made with fresh citrus peels and hand-cracked juniper.
Marcus Black
Joint Managing Director of Innovative Consumer Beverages
Marcus is responsible for the corporate side of ICB focusing on Finance, IT, HR, Regulatory, M&A, Legal Affairs, and Marketing. Before joining ICB, Marcus worked for Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) as an investment director working on a variety of management buy outs across the north of England. Marcus qualified as an Accountant with Deloitte before spending ten years with PwC where he was one of the founding members of the UK pre and post deal services consultancy practice.
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About Innovative Consumer Beverages: Innovative Consumer Beverages supplies alcoholic drinks to most of the UK’s leading supermarkets, convenience chains and wholesalers.
Chris Wyatt
Director of Finance of Innovative Consumer Beverages
Chris is responsible for the finance function of ICB focusing on providing accurate and timely financial information and commercial insight to the senior management and company as a whole. Chris qualified as a Chartered Accountant (ACA) with Ernst & Young in Cambridge before spending eight years with a logistics business where he was promoted to Associate Director. A move to North Yorkshire followed and Chris has spent the last seven years at Finance Director level in the region, most recently two and a half years as Finance Director of Burgess Pet Care, a manufacturer of Pet Foods. Chris lives just outside Ripon with his wife and three sons. He can mainly be found providing an efficient taxi service at the weekends whilst trying to find the time to support his team Norwich City.
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About Innovative Consumer Beverages: Innovative Consumer Beverages supplies alcoholic drinks to most of the UK’s leading supermarkets, convenience chains and wholesalers.
Clare Whitaker
Marketing Director of Innovative Consumer Beverages
Clare Whitaker is the marketing director of Innovative Consumer Beverages.
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About Innovative Consumer Beverages: Innovative Consumer Beverages supplies alcoholic drinks to most of the UK’s leading supermarkets, convenience chains and wholesalers.
Richard McKnight
Director of Finance of Eemax
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About Eemax: Eemax is the supplier of tankless water heater solutions in the USA.
Daniel Leyva
Director of Finance of Ithaca Hummus
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About Ithaca Hummus: Unpasteurized Lebanese-Style Hummus
Adric Garlick
Director of Operations of Ithaca Hummus
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About Ithaca Hummus: Unpasteurized Lebanese-Style Hummus
Matt Glaser
Director of Operations and Co-Founder of Holla Spirits
Matt Glaser serves as the Director of Operations and a Co-Founder of Hola Spirits.
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About Holla Spirits: Holla Spirits is a millennial-owned company that creates innovative spirits products that resonate with like-minded consumers.
Sophie Jewett
Managing Director of York Cocoa House
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About York Cocoa House: York Cocoa House are bringing fine chocolate manufacturing back to York.
Eric Gillin
Executive Director of Epicurious
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About Condé Nast, Epicurious: Epicurious is a website providing recipes, menus, cooking articles and food guides.
Michael Kaufman
Director of Brooklyn Brands
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About : Brooklyn Brands owns a portfolio of brands, including the premier manufacturer of handcrafted cookies, cakes, breads and pastries.
Martin Coyle
Operations Director of CyBake
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About CyBake: CyBake is a Bakery management software.
Martin Coyle
Operations Director of CyBake
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About CyBake: CyBake is a Bakery management software.
