Miyoko's Creamery facts for kids
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| Industry | Dairy-free products |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Miyoko's Kitchen |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Sonoma, California |
Miyoko's Creamery, once known as Miyoko's Kitchen, is an American food company. It was started by Miyoko Schinner in 2014. This company makes tasty foods that are completely free of dairy.
Contents
What Miyoko's Creamery Makes
Miyoko's Creamery is known for its dairy-free products. These include plant-based butter and many kinds of vegan cheeses. They make these products using special traditional cheesemaking methods. They mostly use ingredients like cashews, oats, and chickpea flour. This means their products are great for people who can't eat dairy or choose not to.
How Miyoko's Creamery Started
Miyoko Schinner first tried to start a vegan food company in 1997. It was called Now and Zen. But she couldn't find anyone to invest money in it, so she closed it in 2003.
In 2014, Miyoko tried again and started "Miyoko's Kitchen." Later, the name changed to "Miyoko's Creamery." Her new company quickly raised $1 million to get started. One of the first people to invest was Seth Tibbott, who founded Tofurky.
The company kept growing and getting more investments. By 2017, they had raised a total of $12 million. They also moved to a much bigger building in Petaluma, California. In 2019, famous people like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi also invested in Miyoko's Creamery. That same year, the company started selling its products in Canada and Australia, not just in the United States.
In 2022, Miyoko’s Creamery announced they were looking for new ways to grow. This included possibly selling the company to help it become even more successful.
The Food Truck Tour
Miyoko's Creamery launched a special food truck tour in March 2020. The truck traveled all across the United States. It gave away 15,000 free grilled cheese sandwiches! The goal was to show people how delicious cruelty-free vegan cheese can be.
Legal Challenges and Resolutions
In 2021, Miyoko's Creamery won an important legal case. The California Department of Food and Agriculture wanted to stop the company from using words like "Cheese" and "Butter" for their plant-based products. Miyoko's Creamery argued that they had the right to use these words. The court agreed with them, saying it was part of their First Amendment rights.
In early 2023, Miyoko Schinner, the founder, left her role as CEO. A short time later, Miyoko's Creamery and Miyoko Schinner had a disagreement that led to legal action. However, by May 2023, both sides announced that they had solved all their legal issues. They agreed to drop all claims against each other.
Their joint announcement said that Miyoko's Creamery recognized Miyoko Schinner's amazing work. They called her a "true pioneer" in vegan products. Miyoko Schinner also thanked the team at Miyoko's Creamery for continuing her vision. Both wished each other well as they went their separate ways.
