FOOD SYSTEM SPECIALISTS
insights behind smarter growth Decisions
We are a specialist growth consultancy serving food companies at turning points. Expansion. Growth stalls. Strategic pivots.
WHAT WE DO
We work alongside leadership teams when stakes are high.
Our work can look like pressure-testing a growth plan with real-world inputs from subject-matter experts to prove an investment case. It can mean evolving brand fundamentals to deliver a marketing toolkit and concrete action steps that have been consumer-validated. Or exploring new approaches to sourcing, including specialty or identity-preserved crops and vertical integration.
We lock arms with your leadership team as steady, experienced operators when it matters most.
We help leaders choose their best growth options to get traction quickly.
HOW WE WORK
Each project is staffed with senior operators and specialists — people who have worked in relevant areas of the food value chain. They have experience delivering strategic growth initiatives that build brands and business outcomes, from CPG to farm. That means decisions grounded in experience.
We believe it is important to have subject matter experts specific to each challenge – people who already "lived it." Your growth moves are too important to be based on theory or general frameworks.
We are built to operate differently than legacy consulting models. Advances in technology and tools have reduced the need for large teams doing executional work. We leverage technology effectively to deliver your project efficiently. We focus our time and resources where experience, judgment, and pattern recognition matter most.
OUR VALUES
A holistic food systems lens informs all our work. We toggle seamlessly between conversations about farming, supply chain, and brand activation. This approach makes us unique.
We are champions of regenerative agriculture and food systems that are kind to people, animals, and planet. We believe those approaches create positive outcomes that last.
We don't settle because our experience has taught us:
– it IS possible to produce better food.
--It IS possible to do it profitably.
--it IS possible to do it at scale.
MEET THE FOUNDER
I'm Nicole, your partner in growth.
From Big CPG to Startup, Brand Marketing to Commodity Trading, I’ve been there. I’ve started businesses from $0. And I’ve been a brand leader for $1B+ portfolios and eight-figure advertising budgets — where missteps are expensive and hard to unwind.
From Pet to Produce, CPG to CEA, and Commodity to Specialty, I’ve worked across the food value chain. At one point, I found myself responsible for a soy crush plant. That range of experience gives me a real-world view of what works, what doesn’t, and what actually moves a business forward.
All those experiences inform my work for clients. I dive into the real Food industry dynamics that bring your best options into sharp focus. Facing a complex growth decision? I would love to help.
our advisory team
Ingredients Markets (U.S. & Global)
AGRICULTURE Finance & Strategy (U.S. & GLOBAL)
AGRICULTURE Finance & Strategy (U.S. & GLOBAL)
CAROLINA DONOSO, MS
Former Senior Executive and General Manager at one of the world’s leading food ingredient companies, Carolina has led global business units to strong financial performance, with a proven track record of driving profitable growth across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.
With deep, end-to-end experience across the food system—from crops to consumers—Carolina connects market dynamics, consumer insights, and technology/IP to identify and scale high-impact growth opportunities.
A trained Food Scientist and Engineer, she brings extensive B2B commercial and sales leadership experience partnering with leading global CPG companies across Food & Beverage, Nutraceutical, and Pet Nutrition markets.
AGRICULTURE Finance & Strategy (U.S. & GLOBAL)
AGRICULTURE Finance & Strategy (U.S. & GLOBAL)
AGRICULTURE Finance & Strategy (U.S. & GLOBAL)
RACHELLE GRANT, CPA, MBA, MAcc
A Controller with global experience in agriculture, Rachelle has spent her career evaluating the market performance and growth potential of commodities, specialty crops, and agricultural inputs across the U.S. and international markets.
She has advised both Fortune 500 companies and emerging startups on financial strategy, investment decisions, and operational performance.
A CPA licensed in Missouri with an MBA and Master’s in Accounting, Rachelle brings a strong financial and operating perspective to client engagements. She is uniquely positioned to assess growth fundamentals and guide data-driven decision-making in complex agricultural markets.
Insights and Analytics (CONSUMER & MARKET)
AGRICULTURE Finance & Strategy (U.S. & GLOBAL)
Insights and Analytics (CONSUMER & MARKET)
ARWEN KIMMEL, PhD
A leader in strategic analytics and consumer insights, Arwen brings a broad business perspective grounded in deep understanding of consumer behavior. She has particular expertise in the natural and organic channel, supporting emerging and established brands with research-driven growth strategies.
With experience spanning retail, research, and client-side brand strategy, Arwen has led insights initiatives for a wide range of companies including Newman’s Own, Kashi, Bear Naked, and Pure Organic.
Skilled in quantitative and qualitative research, ethnography, jobs-to-be-done, and behavioral economics, she applies the right analytical tools to address clients’ most critical business questions.
FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Insights and Analytics (CONSUMER & MARKET)
KEITH PETROFSKY, Phd
bio coming soon!
Supply Chain & Operations
For this function, we engage operations leaders whose experience aligns with a client’s specific position in the value chain, recognizing that supply chain execution differs fundamentally between agricultural inputs, commodities, ingredient processing, and CPG manufacturing.
Our advisors bring hands-on experience in sourcing, logistics, capacity planning, and scale-up execution. This targeted approach enables clients to translate strategy into durable operational plans.
Cross-Functional subject matter experts
We engage a curated network of subject matter experts across a wide range of functions such as e-commerce strategy, packaging & design, innovation, crop inputs & agronomy, regulatory compliance and farmer, to name a few.
These specialists are deployed as needed to deepen our insights and accelerate growth outcomes for clients.