Tesco’s Director of Plant-Primarily based Innovation Derek Sarno is leaving the retailer after six years.
The acclaimed vegan chef is the mastermind behind Depraved Kitchen and Plant Chef – two manufacturers which bolstered the accessibility of plant-based meat for the grocery store chain.
Throughout Sarno’s time at Tesco, the retailer dedicated to rising plant-based meals gross sales by a staggering 300 p.c by 2025.
It additionally peddled visibility of meat alternatives by putting them in the identical aisle as their animal counterparts and vowed to spend money on plant-based meals to cut back their price.
Bringing plant-based ‘into the mainstream’
“Providing scrumptious, reasonably priced plant-based meals is extremely essential to us as we proceed to encourage clients to eat extra veg, and take a look at alternate options to meat and different proteins,” Tesco’s Sarah Bradbury mentioned in a press release.
“Derek has been a central a part of our drive to carry plant-based into the mainstream, and it’s no shock the class at Tesco has gone from power to power beneath his management.
“He’s finished a improbable job and I’d wish to thank him for all his exhausting work. All of us want him properly for the long run.”
What’s subsequent for Derek Sarno?
Confirming his departure on LinkedIn, Sarno described the transfer as ‘the top of an period and starting of a brand new chapter’.
“As I step away from my function at Tesco, I need to ship a HUGE thanks to the Tesco groups and my wonderful colleagues and new pals!”, he wrote.
“A really heartfelt thanks to our provider companions who helped set the benchmark for plant-based meals within the UK. Your continued partnership, dedication and exhausting work are the driving drive behind all of our successes.
“I’m excited for what’s subsequent and can all the time look again on my time at Tesco with fond recollections.”
‘Have a relaxation’
Chatting with the Grocer about his future endeavours, Sarno mentioned he plans to “have a relaxation after which double down and proceed creating meals and content material for the Depraved Kitchen YouTube, so we will preserve serving to folks prepare dinner and eat extra vegetation”.
He added: “I’ve a great deal of concepts I need to carry to life. I’m open to alternatives as properly.
“And, in fact, [I] will proceed to work with mushrooms and mushroom growers. Working with Smithy Mushrooms right here within the UK has been a spotlight.”
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Featured picture credit score: Derek Sarno/Veganuary
