Annie Ryu
Founder
jack & annie's and The Jackfruit Company
Annie Ryu is the founder and CEO of jack & annie’s and The Jackfruit Company, leading the charge in crafting craveable and satisfying foods made with jackfruit. Annie first encountered jackfruit in 2011 while working in India to implement a maternal and child healthcare program as part of her Harvard pre-med studies. Annie saw an incredible opportunity to convert an underutilized crop into nutritious, delicious foods and create an income opportunity for farming families.
For over ten years, Annie has worked relentlessly to help popularize jackfruit as a ground-breaking meatless alternative and to pioneer a robust supply chain for its distribution. The direct-from-the-farmer-supply chain supports over 1,700 farming families by providing 10-40% of their income by upcycling a crop that historically has gone to waste. Jackfruit is a sustainable and regenerative crop that is naturally drought and pest-resistant. Notably, it boasts 94% lower carbon footprint than conventional beef.
The global leader for jackfruit products, jack & annie’s and The Jackfruit Company’s foods are now available nationwide in over 5,000 stores. Sold in the frozen and refrigerated sections, and online, these award-winning foods include a broad variety of delicious foods, from savory breakfast sausage patties to nuggets to shredded jackfruit in BBQ sauce. This spring, the jack & annie’s burger launched in the Smashburger chain nationwide after a successful test in several markets.
Annie resides in Boulder, CO, where the company is headquartered.
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Awards and Recognition:
- Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year mountain west awards (2022)- Annie Ryu
- Young Gun Frozen & Refrigerated Foods (2022)
- Unreasonable Fellow (2019) - Annie Ryu
- Top Women in Grocery (2019) - Annie Ryu
- Forbes 30 Under 30 for Social Entrepreneurs (2017) - Annie Ryu