Miyoko's Creamery

Last updated
Miyoko's Creamery
IndustryDairy-free products
Founded2014
Headquarters Sonoma, California
Website miyokos.com
Clockwise from top: pepper jack, garlic and chive cheese spread, and lox cream cheese (all vegan). Miyoko's Creamery - three vegan cheeses.jpg
Clockwise from top: pepper jack, garlic and chive cheese spread, and lox cream cheese (all vegan).

Miyoko's Creamery, formerly Miyoko's Kitchen, is an American food producer.

Contents

Overview

Miyoko's Creamery specializes in dairy-free products including butter and a wide variety of different types of cheeses using traditional cheesemaking cultures and techniques, chiefly out of cashews, oats and chickpea flour. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

History

2014-2021

In 2014, [6] Miyoko Schinner established "Miyoko's Kitchen" as the CEO. The brand later changed its name to "Miyoko's Creamery". The startup swiftly accrued $1 million in seed money, first being invested in by Seth Tibbott, the founder of Tofurky. [1] [7]

Fundraising continued to grow: in 2017, it obtained $6 million in funding, for a total of $12 million. [8] In December of that year, it moved from a 4,000-square-foot facility to a 29,000-square-foot facility, [8] [9] located in Petaluma. [6] Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi made an investment in Miyoko's Creamery in November 2019. [10] [11] In addition to vending within the United States, Miyoko's Creamery expanded its market in 2019, distributing to Canada and Australia. [12] [13]

Miyoko's Food Truck, in a Cross Country Tour starting from March 4, 2020, distributed 15,000 free grilled cheese sandwiches around the United States in order to promote cruelty-free vegan cheese in the Country. [14] [15]

In August 2021, Miyoko's Creamery prevailed on First Amendment grounds in their lawsuit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture's attempts to force the company to cease using the words "Cheese" and "Butter" among others in the marketing of their products. [16]

2022-2023

Miyoko’s Creamery removed Schinner from the company in 2022. Schinner described this decision as the result of a conflict over the “future growth” of the company. The Board said that it wanted a more traditional CEO. [17] On February 16, 2023, Miyoko's Creamery filed a lawsuit against Schinner, alleging that she misappropriated confidential information and copied the data to her personal cloud after the board of directors voted to terminate her as CEO. The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Case 3:23-cv-00711. [18] In response, on March 3, Schinner's attorney Lisa Bloom announced that she would be filing a wrongful termination counter lawsuit. Bloom stated: “The company's behavior in forcing her out of the company she created and built, then trashing her via an outrageously malicious and misleading lawsuit will be met with facts and witnesses showing that Miyoko's own complaints of toxic and sexist behavior by certain male executives were swept under the rug, and then she was demoted and fired.” [19] On May 18 Miyoko's Creamery and Schinner made a joint announcement that both lawsuits were resolved. The announcement states: "Miyoko’s Creamery and Miyoko Schinner are pleased that they have resolved all legal disputes between them and that they have withdrawn all legal claims made against each other. Miyoko’s Creamery acknowledges the tremendous creativity, hard work, and integrity of its founder, Miyoko Schinner, a true pioneer in vegan creamery products, and appreciates her many contributions to the company over the years. Miyoko Schinner appreciates the dedicated team of people at Miyoko’s Creamery and their commitment to continuing her legacy through sustained and continued excellence in manufacturing, developing and selling vegan creamery products." It also states that they both “wish each other well as they go their separate ways.” [20]

In November 2023 Miyoko’s Creamery announced plans to raise $12 million in funding and explore the potential sale of the business, as reported by Bloomberg. In a letter to shareholders, CEO Stuart Kronauge outlined a "financial stabilisation plan" aimed at increasing profits and considering strategic alternatives, including selling the company. [21]

2025

On November 5, 2025 Schinner announced that she created a bid to buy back Miyoko's Creamery (as it was up for sale). [22] [23] However, she said on November 10 that she was not successful, and the company will go to another bidder. [17] [24] A week later, Melt Organic (owned by Prosperity Organic Foods) was reported as the winning bidder. [25] [26] Schinner responded to the news by stating: "I am not associated in any way, and while they now own the trademark ‘Miyoko’s,’ they cannot allude to my involvement nor endorsement. [26] Schinner also asked the new owners for her name back and to rebrand as, "they cannot mention my name, ‘Miyoko’ or ‘Miyoko Schinner’, or imply any sort of reference that could lead people to think that I am somehow associated with it. Nor can they use my image in any way." [27]

References

  1. 1 2 "This Woman Is Taking On The $120 Billion Cheese Industry". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. ↑ Chowhound. "A Visit with the Queen of Vegan Cheese, Miyoko Schinner". Chowhound. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  3. ↑ Erickson, Katheryn (2019-08-23). "If I Close My Eyes, I'd Swear This European-Style Vegan Butter Is Real Butter". The Strategist. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  4. ↑ Mack, Heather (2019-11-14). "Vegan Cheesemaker Wants Dairies to Swap Cows for Plants". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  5. ↑ Bland, Alastair (7 April 2015). "Hold The Mammal: Daring To Make Dairy-Free Cheese From Nuts". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  6. 1 2 Batey, Eve (2020-02-10). "Vegan Cheese Company Barred From Using Cow Photos By State Regulators". Eater SF. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  7. ↑ "Miyoko's Kitchen and the Rise of Vegan Cheese". Specialty Food Association. 2016-10-03. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  8. 1 2 Forgrieve, Janet. "Will The Dairy Of The Future Come From Cashews Instead Of Cows?". Forbes.
  9. ↑ Marx, Rebecca Flint (2019-05-16). "Not milking it: how vegan cheese finally caught up with modern appetites". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  10. ↑ Pritchett, Liam (2019-11-14). "Ellen DeGeneres Invests In Vegan Cheese Brand Miyoko's". LIVEKINDLY. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  11. ↑ "Ellen DeGeneres invests in Pelatuma's plant-based dairy brand's growth". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  12. ↑ "Miyoko's Vegan Butter Debuts in 1,000 Stores in Canada". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  13. ↑ "Miyoko's Vegan Cheese and Butter Expand to Australia". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  14. ↑ Ettinger, Jill (February 22, 2020). "Miyoko's Gives Away Vegan Grilled Cheese Truck on 17 City Tour". The Beet. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  15. ↑ "Miyoko's Food Truck to Give Away 15,000 Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in Cross-Country Tour". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  16. ↑ Schlott, Rikki (30 August 2021). "California Court Rules Vegan Creamery Has First Amendment Right To Call Products 'Butter' and 'Cheese'". reason.com. Reason. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  17. 1 2 Armstrong, Anna (2025-11-20). "Miyoko's Creamery founder loses fight to buy back her Petaluma vegan dairy brand". The Press Democrat . Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  18. ↑ "Mintz Reps Vegan Food Company Miyoko's in Trade Secrets Suit". Law.com. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  19. ↑ Hamstra, Mark (2023-03-02). "Schinner Plans Countersuit in Miyoko's Creamery Dispute". Specialty Food Association . Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  20. ↑ Watson, Elaine (2023-05-18). "Brief: Miyoko's and namesake founder bury the hatchet, withdraw legal claims". agfundernews.com. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  21. ↑ Holland, Fiona (2023-11-21). "Miyoko's Creamery 'seeks funding, ponders selling business'". Just Food. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  22. ↑ Watson, Elaine (2025-11-05). "Exclusive: Miyoko's founder plans bid to buy back brand from liquidator". AFN. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  23. ↑ Pointing, Charlotte (2025-11-06). "After Tumultuous Exit, Miyoko Schinner Ignites Plan to Buy Back Her Company". VegNews . Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  24. ↑ Watson, Elaine (2025-11-10). "Breaking: Miyoko Schinner fails to buy back namesake brand". AFN. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  25. ↑ Pointing, Charlotte (2025-11-18). "After a Dramatic Battle, the New Owner of Miyoko's Creamery Is Revealed". VegNews . Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  26. 1 2 Watson, Elaine (2025-11-18). "Melt Organic brand owner is the winning bidder for Miyoko's Creamery: 'We're surprised and delighted'". AFN. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  27. ↑ Mridul, Anay (2025-11-20). "Melt Organic Butter Owner Acquires Miyoko's Creamery; Founder Asks For Her Name Back". Green Queen. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
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