Virchew Planted Expo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virchew Announces Todd Maki as Chief Operating Officer and Lead, Business Development

October 28, 2023 - VANCOUVER, B.C. - Virchew, the company behind North America's first plant-based, hypoallergenic food brand for dogs supported by industry-first nutrition programs focusing on skin, digestive, and senior-related solutions, has announced the appointment of Todd Maki to Chief Operating Officer and Lead, Business Development.

Maki joins Virchew with over 20 years of corporate experience at The Walt Disney Company, The Universal Music Group, and various additional leading-edge companies, and has a track record for streamlining processes and creating scalable operations to enhance profitability. He's known for creating high-functioning teams that achieve measurable success, developing business plans that capture capital investment, building quality relationships with customers and partners, and creating sales and marketing campaigns to ignite exponential growth.

With the plant-based foods movement now including companion animals and projected to reach 77.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 and double that by 2030 (statista.com), Virchew is ahead of the curve. With the appointment of Maki, founder Laura Simonson is signaling the next stage of growth for the company through a new veterinary distribution deal for 2024.

"We are honoured to add Todd's expertise in positioning organizations for synergistic and sustainable success to our team of passionate professionals and strategic partners," said Simonson. "Together, we are truly poised for the next leg of this adventure."

Maki shares that he "is thrilled to join Virchew's visionary crew to 'do the right thing' for dogs, their people, our planet and to bring to the masses an idea whose time has simply come and the innovative, veterinary-quality foods to fuel it consciously."

ABOUT VIRCHEW, THE COMPANY

Founder Laura Simonson has garnered 30 years of success (sales, marketing, management, business development, venture capital, and communications). With Virchew, she has invested over a decade in R & D along with a team of experienced entrepreneurs, business leaders, specialists, veterinary professionals, and Board-Certified Veterinary Nutritionists.

Through a series of funding rounds with like-minded investors, the formation of Virchew's development plan is supported by 75+ shareholders, including twelve veterinarians. Demonstrating diversity in action, 90% of the funding has been invested through female investors.

Fall 2023 will see the Company's invitation to accredited investors to participate in their next capital round to fund market expansion and distribution to veterinary clinics across B.C., Canada, and new direct distribution campaigns to consumers Canada-wide.

COMPANY AND MEDIA CONTACT

Laura Simonson, CEO & Founder

2960 West 4th Avenue

Vancouver, BC, Canada V6K 1R4

Direct: 778-968-8880

Email: laura@virchew.com

Virchew Planted Expo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virchew’s Laura Simonson to Question the Impact of Canine Nutrition on Humanity and Our Planet at Planted Expo 2023

By challenging canine nutrition norms, Laura Simonson’s Virchew has emerged as a game-changing powerful new paradigm.

(May 18, 2023 – Vancouver, British Columbia) - Founder and CEO of Virchew, Laura Simonson, will present as a Key Speaker at Planted Expo on Saturday, May 27, alongside boundary-pushing vegan entrepreneurs, doctors, authors, and sports luminaries, including Olympic athletes Meagan Duhamel and Dotsie Bausch.

Presenting an innovative and thought-provoking approach to canine health, Simonson will posit the question: ‘A Vegan Diet for Dogs: What if it’s a Game Changer?’. Drawing from over 30 years of research and experience, Simonson aims to inspire the audience to think outside culturally ingrained dog diet norms. Her message will take a deeper look into the impact that humanity’s best friend could have on our collective evolution from shocking pet food facts to senseless disease, massive healthcare costs, climate change, and our emotional and social well-being.

Simonson says, “Why is our dog’s diet important? If dogs and cats had their own country, it would rank 5th in global meat consumption. So I founded Virchew alongside a team of extraordinary professionals to directly counteract this devastating statistic and provide sustainable dietary solutions. Virchew is a 100% plant-based product that uses highly nutritious, lightly processed Canadian and North American non-GMO ingredients - supported by their industry-first veterinary programs and partnerships - creating a powerful new paradigm in canine nutrition for humanity’s best friend.”

Stevan Mirkovich, Co-Owner and Chief Relational Officer of PlantedLife.com, says, “For this event, we have created a speaker schedule where those already involved in this lifestyle can discover deeper ways to connect with their health and advance their nutritional knowledge while those new to this lifestyle can learn how easy it is to transition to a plant-based diet.”

At Planted Expo, attendees will be invited to visit the Virchew at Booth 437, where team members will offer product details and samples and sign up those interested in transitioning their dogs to a plant-based diet.

Simonson shares: “We are the first woman-owned and financed plant-based brand for dogs supported by groundbreaking veterinary nutrition programs that focus on dietary solutions for common health issues in dogs. Our direct-to-consumer and vertical business model, unique foods, and timely entry into a fast-expanding marketplace have seen our customer base triple and very promising sales growth in 2022. We are excited to expand to international distribution by 2024.”

On the horizon for Virchew is the launch of their new product offering, which is a groundbreaking combination of Virchew’s proprietary blend of powerful plant-based ingredients that are an industry first and the roll-out of a partnership sales platform for veterinarians and retailers that is a game-changer for the pet food industry.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Virchew Included in Game Changers Report Celebrating Canada’s Female-Led Natural and Bio-Based Companies

Natural Products Canada releases first female-focused report for International Women’s Day

(March 8, 2023 – Vancouver, British Columbia) - Virchew is thrilled to announce their inclusion in Game Changers: Leading Companies. Powered by Women, an initiative led by Natural Products Canada (NPC). This new list of over 100 companies provides an interesting look at the women leading Canada’s growing natural and bio-based industries. Virchew is creating a powerful new paradigm in canine nutrition for humanity’s best friend. Supported by trailblazing veterinary nutrition programs, Virchew serves up the first plant-based meals and treats for dogs.

Not a typical kibble company, Virchew has created innovative, 100% plant-based food using raw or lightly processed Canadian and North American non-GMO ingredients. Their unique dry foods do not require typical extruding or cooking methods, therefore using a fraction of the energy that most production methods require, and they ship directly from their production facility to customers' doors across Canada.

Founder Laura Simonson shares: “We are the first woman-owned plant-based brand for dogs supported by groundbreaking veterinary nutrition programs that focus on dietary solutions for common health issues in dogs. Our direct-to-consumer and vertical business model, innovative foods, and timely entry into a fast-expanding marketplace have seen our customer base triple, and promising sales growth in 2022. We are excited to expand to international distribution by 2024.”

NPC is a national organization that supports bio-based innovation, and this first of its kind Game Changers report showcases the breadth of female leadership in Canadian companies that are creating economic and social impact through their natural and bio-based products. The report features companies from across the country with products designed for consumers seeking new options for their health and wellness such as food, beauty and personal care items, as well as industrial products such as bio resins and biopesticides that help corporations looking to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their sustainability goals.

“Canadians should be proud of these innovative companies that are delivering better, healthier options for people and the planet,” says Shelley King, CEO, Natural Products Canada. “The women leading these companies are truly making a difference, and we are very proud to provide this platform to introduce them to new customers and partners.”

Game Changers: Leading Companies. Powered by Women is sponsored by TD.

The Game Changers report can be accessed at www.canadiangamechangers.ca

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Media inquiries:

Contact Information 

Laura Simonson, Founder

Virchew 

Telephone/Text: 778-968-8880

email: laura@virchew.com

Natural Products Canada (NPC) is the driving force behind Canada’s Natural Product Innovation Cluster–a strategic and diverse community focused on the development and commercialization of naturally-derived products and technologies in health and life sciences, natural resources, agriculture and agri-food, and sustainable bioproducts. As part of its role in the Cluster, NPC offers in-depth advice and a suite of commercialization programs to Canadian early-stage companies and research institutes; provides connections and innovation scouting services to corporations and investors; and leverages an investment fund (NPC Ventures) to help develop and de-risk promising Canadian opportunities. NPC has received financial support from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, administered by the department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, and the Centre of Excellence in Commercialization and Research (CECR) program, administered by the Networks of Centres of Excellence.