Gathered Foods co-founders recognized by UBS as global visionaries

Gathered Foods (Austin, TX), whose plant-based seafood brand Good Catch was recently recognized by Nutritional Outlook as our Best of the Industry Retail Brand, has announced that its co-founder and executive chair Chris Kerr, and co-founder and chief culinary officer Chad Sarno were named UBS Global Visionaries. Selected by the wealth management firm UBS, the UBS Global Visionaries program chooses leading innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing ways to create positive environmental and social impact, working towards one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Kerr and Sarno were chosen for their efforts to preserve and protect the planet's resources through sustainable and plant-based products.

Chris Kerr, co-founder and executive chair of Gathered Foods

During the last two decades, Kerr has focused on impact investing with a concentration on the plant-based food sector. He has worked with and helped launch many innovative companies in the plant-based food sector, including Beyond Meat, Daiya, Alpha Foods, Wicked Foods, and NUMU. Kerr is the chief investment officer of Unovis Asset Management and its New Crop Capital portfolio, which is one of the world’s most active investors in the plant-based foods and cellular agriculture technology. Additionally, Kerr is director of Wicked Foods, BlueNalu, NUMU and Pitcairn Financial Group.

Chad Sarno, co-founder and chief culinary officer of Gathered Foods

"I am incredibly honored to be represented on this list of extraordinary people doing exceptional and necessary work," said Kerr, in a press release. "As we continue to propel change, this recognition by UBS will allow our team at Gathered Foods to amplify our impact on the plant-based food industry."

Sarno is a long-time pioneer of plant-based foods. He co-founded Wicked Kitchen with his brother Derek, which is a disruptive plant-based brand in the European grocery chain Tesco, and the U.S. A restaurateur, Sarno has launched successful plant-based restaurants in Istanbul, Munich, London and Belgrade and served as vice president of Plant-Based Education at Rouxbe Cooking School. Previously, he was global wellness coordinator, media spokesperson and R&D chef for Whole Foods Market. Sarno has also authored numerous NY Times best sellers such as Crazy Sexy Kitchen, The Wicked Healthy Cookbook and The Whole Foods Cookbook.

"As a plant-based chef and vegan, the work we are doing at Good Catch is of the utmost importance on my journey to make a real, positive influence for many generations to come," said Sarno. "This recognition is such an honor, and I am confident that it will help our work have a greater global impact, and us to grow as innovators in the plant-based industry and beyond."

A plant-based seafood brand, Good Catch has been actively expanding its distribution to food service through partnerships with Whole Foods Market, Bareburger, Veggies Grill, and most recently Long John Silver’s. You can read more about Good Catch in our recent Best of the Industry profile.