NYACK, NY. — Michelle Wolf, co-founder of New Wave Foods, has been named chief executive officer at the plant-based seafood company.
She recently was appointed to the top position and already has led the launch of a smaller sized unbreaded plant-based shrimp for broader menu application and a pre-breaded plant-based shrimp as a labor-saving solution. She also oversaw enhancements to the core New Wave Shrimp product, including a reformulation to use exclusively natural and halal ingredients.
Motivated by a passion for food sustainability, Ms. Wolf co-founded New Wave Foods in 2015. The company in 2021 introduced its first product, a plant-based shrimp alternative made with seaweed extract and mung bean protein, in restaurants and foodservice locations. It serves as an ingredient replacement for ocean shrimp in any dish where shrimp is served hot.
Tyson Ventures, the venture capital arm of Tyson Foods Inc., has backed New Wave Foods alongside investors New Enterprise Associates, Evolution VC Partners and Sand Hill Ventures.
In her new role, Ms. Wolf will focus on product and production improvements to better match the needs of chefs and preferences of consumers. She also will lead ongoing innovation to broaden the company’s offerings.
She holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Carnegie Melon University.
“Michelle has been a tireless advocate for consumers to add more sustainable plant-based seafood items to their current diet,” said Liza Landsman, general partner at New Enterprise Associates and a board member at New Wave Foods. “Through her vision and dedication to sustainability, Michelle has developed a great-tasting product. We are excited to see how the company will grow under her leadership.”
