In Search of the Wild Tofurky: How a Business Misfit Pioneered Plant-Based Foods Before They Were Cool
Seth Tibbott
(Author)
Steve Richardson
(With)
Description
From treehouse dream to global brand, Tofurky's Founder and Chairman shares his story of selling millions of plant-based food products without selling out. Success doesn't happen overnight. Except for Seth Tibbott, to whom it does--but only after fifteen years of intrepid failure. In Search of the Wild Tofurky tells the triumphant tale of how a self-described hippie with no business training but plenty of enterprising goals grew a $2,500 startup into a global brand and ushered in a plant-based foods renaissance along the way. Tibbott took home a grand total of $31,000 in his first nine years of striving to bring to the people a nearly unknown soy product--tempeh--he knew in his gut was revolutionarily tasty. He eschewed a buttoned-up lifestyle and resided in tipis, trailers, and a treehouse; rented workspace to piano-repairing circus clowns; and even briefly counted the infamous Rajneeshees as clients. Tibbott was never one to chase the money or try to fit in. Instead, he built a business that fit him. Thus Tibbott discovered the "secret sauce" ingredients that took his now-international brand from fameless to fame-ish to famous: bootstrapping, building business intuition, and staying true to his belief in eco-friendly practices. In Search of the Wild Tofurky proves that a good idea can change the world and make money, no matter the naysayers or the sometimes harsh twists and turns of the unconventional path. Look no further for a delightfully unexpected $100 million story of hope and hustle.Product Details
Price
$26.99
$25.10
Publisher
Diversion Books
Publish Date
April 07, 2020
Pages
256
Dimensions
6.2 X 7.1 X 0.7 inches | 1.2 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781635766530
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About the Author
Seth Tibbott is Tofurky's Founder, Chairman, and CEO of thirty-five years. He's no former Wharton whizz kid or stock junky; in fact, he was an idealistic hippie with no business acumen living in a treehouse when he conceived the idea of bringing healthy, eco-friendly, tasty protein to the world. Nearly forty years later, using his unconventional business approach paired with faith in his products and a deep belief in environmental causes, he has transformed the $2,500 startup into a family-owned global brand worth over $100 million. He lives in Trout Lake, Washington.
Steve Richardson graduated with BS Aerospace Engineering, 1974, and initially worked as Engineer at two Naval Air Rework Facilities, analyzing damage and developing repairs for a wide variety of aircraft and rotorcraft for the US Navy and Marine Corps. Then became Systems Engineer and technical writer for Stencel Aero Engineering (now absorbed into Universal Propulsion Company) which designed and manufactured state-of-the-art ejection seats. Subsequently moved to St Louis MO to work in Operations Analysis for McDonnell Douglas, which merged with Boeing in 1996. Focused primarily on two areas: Combat aircraft survivability against conventional ballistic, chemical/biological, nuclear, and directed energy weapons; and worldwide military capabilities and operational scenarios. Also worked on a variety of next-generation aircraft concepts. Wrote all kinds of technical materials for proposals, white papers, professional papers, and other internal and external audiences. He retired in 2016 as a Technical Fellow, and holds six United States patents.
Reviews
"Seth Tibbott is an American Original. His story is so outlandish, so unbelievable . . . you'd think it was fiction. A man, a treehouse, a tempeh factory in an abandoned elementary school in the middle of nowhere, and eventually a tofu turkey! And somehow, through it all, he managed to build a hugely successful company and become one of the most important evangelists in the natural foods movement that took off in the United States in the early 1990s."--Guy Raz, Host and Cocreator of NPR's How I Built This, the TED Radio Hour, and Wow in the World "Seth's epic journey from his treehouse to flying high with Tofurky is one of the most inspirational in the history of the natural food movement. This book isn't about how an old hippie achieved success, but about a man who lived his truth and maintained his humility throughout his own evolution, and thereby touched lives across multiple continents, including mine." --Miyoko Schinner, CEO, Miyoko's Kitchen "Expert advice and inspiration from a most unconventional source. Seth Tibbott, and the momentous meat-free mission of Tofurky, the company he co-founded, has done more for human health, the planet, and the animals than all their fiercest competitors combined--while maintaining the highest level of integrity. An education in the business of ethics." --Eric C Lindstrom, author of The Skeptical Vegan and The Smart Parent's Guide to Raising Vegan Kids "Tofurky is an iconic international brand that inspires compassionate vegan living around the globe, while retaining the integrity of purpose born of its humble origin. Beginning as a small start-up operated by Seth Tibbott living in a treehouse in the Oregon woods, Tofurky has grown into a global force. Seth is a good friend and colleague, and I'm excited that his uplifting story is now being shared in this book." --Gene Baur, co-founder Farm Sanctuary and author of best-selling Living the Farm Sanctuary Life "Putting down roots nearly 40 years ago, Tofurky continues to pave the way for a plant-powered future with its delicious vegan products, including its famous holiday roast, now sprouting up worldwide. This compassionate company's innovation is evidenced not only in its nourishing foods, but also in its eco-friendly production facility, and in the way it leads by example with a commitment to social justice values, pro-actively supporting equality and kindness for all." --Erica Meier, founder, Compassion Over Killing
