LOS ANGELES — Mark Rampolla has been named chief executive officer of Beanfields Snacks, a maker of bean and rice chips. He said he will not accept a salary for the position.
Mr. Rampolla founded Zico Coconut Water, which was acquired by The Coca-Cola Co. in 2013. He is a partner of Powerplant Ventures, a venture fund established to support plant-based food and beverage businesses.
Mr. Rampolla said he hopes to use his expertise in brand building and venture capital to advance Beanfields as a leader in socially conscious, better-for-you snacking. He intends to focus on accelerating the revenue, equity and job creation partnership that the company created with non-profit Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles-based gang intervention, rehabilitation and re-entry program.
“After diving into Beanfields since we invested, I just became more and more excited about the opportunity to disrupt the salty snack category,” Mr. Rampolla said. “At the same time, we have a wonderful opportunity to help Homeboy build a sustainable revenue model and perhaps even create a new model of social entrepreneurship. This was an opportunity that I could not pass up.”
Beanfields was founded in 2011 with a philosophy that business can be used as a driving force for doing good.
Reed Glidden, founder of Beanfield |
“I couldn’t be happier that we have someone of Mark’s experience, passion and dedication to lead Beanfields at this critical juncture,” said Reed Glidden, founder of Beanfields. “And to get him for free? We might be the luckiest brand out there.”