Sproud, the Swedish company behind the low-carbon pea milk with the same name, today announces that Sara Berger, the current CEO of Sweden’s largest supplier of fruit and vegetables SydGrönt, will be appointed Sproud’s Global CEO from August.
The company is now entering into a new phase of significant growth, with the goal to reach 500 million SEK (nearly £50 million) in revenue within three years.
Berger brings 20 years of experience from leading roles within FMCG, having held senior positions at companies such as Unilever, 7-Eleven, and Nordic frozen food group, Findus, where she spent nearly 10 years and was a key driving force for the development of its plant-based offering. In addition, Sara has served on several boards of directors, including a current role as board member for tech platform Matilda Food Tech.
Berger will lead Sproud on its continued expansion journey, which, so far, has brought the company to 18 countries across the world, with key markets including Sweden, the UK, the US, and Canada. She will also work closely with Sproud co-founder Maria Tegman, who now hands over the CEO role to focus solely on the development of the company’s brand and marketing, as Global Marketing Director. Furthermore, Berger will continue to build Sproud’s company culture and team, as well as oversee the development of new products.
With backing from London-based VGC Partners, which invested £4.8 million in Sproud earlier this year, 2021 has seen Sproud further accelerate its growth. To facilitate its rapidly expanding team, the company has just opened the doors to its new headquarters in Malmö. It is also growing its business in the US with a dedicated North America team headed up by General Manager Bill Lange, who brings experience from top-level positions at companies such as Nestlé and Campbell Soup Company.
Nicklas Jungberg, Sproud’s co-founder and Chairman of the Board comments “We are incredibly proud to welcome Sara to the team as our new CEO. After a successful launch on our home market in 2018, and distribution now secured with leading retailers in key markets internationally, including Whole Foods Market in the US, we are entering a phase of significant growth, where Sara’s experience will be hugely valuable. With Sara on board and a fantastic and growing team we are now well equipped to enter the next stage of our journey.”
Sara Berger comments: “One of the greatest challenges that the world is facing currently is the transition towards more sustainable food production. Sproud has done an incredible job to establish itself as a key player in a rapidly growing space with tough competition and it is now ready to accelerate from startup to scale-up. With unrivaled taste and the lowest climate footprint in the industry, Sproud is in an ideal position to become the world’s leading plant-based dairy company. I am confident that we can grab significant market shares and bring Sproud to the next level.”
About Sproud
Sproud is a producer of plant-based milk made from yellow split peas. Established in 2017 by co-founders Maria Tegman, Nicklas Jungberg and Christopher Robertson, the company is headquartered in Malmö, with additional teams based in the UK and US. Sproud launched its first products in Sweden in 2018, and is currently sold in 18 markets around the world through major supermarkets and online retailers such as Waitrose, Ocado, Amazon and Whole Foods Market.