Prime Highlights:
- Miyoko Schinner, founder of Miyoko’s Creamery, raised over $100,000 from the public to try and buy back her vegan cheese company.
- She aims to reclaim the company from big investors and create a more ethical, collaborative business focused on animals and the food system.
Key Facts:
- Miyoko’s Creamery, sold in over 20,000 stores across the US, entered liquidation after Schinner left in June 2022.
- The crowdfunding campaign attracted more than 1,600 supporters in just 48 hours, raising significant public backing for her bid.
Background:
Miyoko Schinner, the founder of Miyoko’s Creamery, has mobilized over $100,000 from more than 1,600 supporters in an effort to buy back the vegan cheese company she created, though she acknowledges it is “highly unlikely” she will win the bid.
Three years after being forced out of the company, Schinner launched a crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe alongside Rick LeBeau, co-founder of vegan energy bar maker Rickaroons. The campaign aimed to support her bid to reacquire Miyoko’s Creamery, which recently entered the assignment for the benefit of creditors process, a process allowing financially distressed companies to sell their assets outside of formal bankruptcy.
In just 48 hours, the public responded overwhelmingly, raising over $100,000 of the $140,000 goal. The campaign reflects Schinner’s enduring popularity and the strong support for her mission to combine plant-based innovation with ethical business practices.
Schinner said she wants to make a difference for both animals and the food industry, aiming to reclaim control from big investors and corporations that currently decide what people eat.
If successful, Schinner plans to form a collaborative, grassroots-style organization to run the company, emphasizing equity, transparency, and innovation. Her vision includes launching clean, nutrient-dense products, improving existing favorites like mozzarella, and potentially introducing new items such as plant-based cottage cheese.
Miyoko’s Creamery, sold in over 20,000 stores in the US, went into liquidation after Schinner left in June 2022. She says male executives treated her unfairly. Legal disputes between Schinner and the company were later settled.
Despite the uncertainties, Schinner remains optimistic. “The last few days have been the most exhilarating experience,” she said, reflecting on the overwhelming public support. While she does not intend to return as CEO, Schinner is exploring how to continue her mission to improve the food system, create ethical products, and inspire better choices for animals and humanity.
She said the experience made her see how much support people have for her, adding that while she may leave a company, her passion and vision for her products remain.
