Fresh pasta manufacturer 7 Chefs has appointed Wade Porter as its new CEO. He replaces Mark Eva, who held the role for four years and is semi-retiring.
Porter was most recently the CEO of Made By Cow, the world’s first cold pressed raw milk company, that went into voluntary administration in May this year.
He had been with the company since it launched and said the decision to end production was due to a climate of economic uncertainty, growing interest rates and inflation, and supply chain challenges.
At the time, Porter said, “We are proud of our incredible journey and to have created a truly innovative product that was enjoyed by thousands of loyal customers. In recent years we have been on a strong trajectory with our business growing upwards of 50 per cent year-on-year… In this climate of uncertainty, growing interest rates and inflation, the business has faced economic uncertainty and supply chain challenges and, as a result, the very tough decision has been made to cease production,” Porter said.
Prior to that he held senior leadership roles in innovation, sales, and market development at a multinational vitamins company, and sales roles in packaging and foodservice companies.
7 Chefs was originally Casa Della Pasta, founded in 1986. It changed its name in 2010, and in 2022 it acquired pasta manufacturer Diseb Group. Its retail brands are Grand Italian and Grand Italian Tuscan Finest, and Casa Della Pasta for the food service and hospitality markets.
7 Chefs chair Lindsay Smith said, “Wade joins the business at an important stage; and together with the committed, passionate, and talented 7 Chefs team I look forward to seeing the business continue its growth journey under his leadership.”
Porter told Food & Drink Business he was “blown away” by 7 Chef’s state-of-the-art facilities in Epping, Victoria, which offered best in class manufacturing capabilities.
Porter starts on 14 September.
