Nolan Lewin
Executive Director
Rutgers Food Innovation Center
Joined Rutgers University in April 2018 as the Director of the Piscataway Rutgers Food Innovation Center Facility. Shortly thereafter, assigned additional responsibilities as Director of Operations for both Bridgeton and Piscataway facilities. Currently serving as Executive Director for the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University. RFIC is a unique food business incubator and accelerator that is a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES). The Center supports established early stage entrepreneurs and existing food companies from concept to commercialization.
• Clients include Impossible Foods, Dr Schar Gluten Free bread, Simply Good Jars, and Vista Hermosa.
• Previous experience includes several Plant Manager Positions with Hanover Foods, Stay Fresh Foods (HPP Processing) and LiDestri Food & Drink (BAI Brand scale up and sale to Dr. Pepper).
• Owned retail markets (American Harvest – East Brunswick, Marlboro and North Brunswick NJ locations), restaurants (Copper Mountain Steakhouse/Cutters Restaurant), catering facilities (Live Nation Concert Series, Central Park Concerts, NYC) and cheese operations over the past 30 years.
• Family continues to own and operate a Food truck specializing in BBQ and Quick Serve Handheld foods (Wicked Grill BBQ).
• Food and Beverage HACCP certified (Seafood Lead Instructor) PCQI Lead Instructor, FSVP Lead Instructor and have performed in over 12 BRC, SQF and 3rd party audits.
Innovate Globally, Act Locally! Leveraging Local Innovation Partners
A popular environmental phrase encourages consumers to “Think Globally and Act Locally.” When it comes to the food and beverage industry landscape, there’s also world of untapped local resources available to large and small companies alike. Lou Cooperhouse is Co-Founder, President & CEO of BlueNalu Inc., a San Diego firm on technology’s cutting edge with cell-based seafood. Listen and learn as he describes fast-evolving food trends and technologies. Then he moderates an exclusive panel about the many resources surrounding Philadelphia. It features Dr. John L. Stanton, Chairman and Professor of Food Marketing, St. Joseph’s University; Nolan Lewin, Executive Director, Rutgers Food Innovation Center; and Frank Baldassarre, Principal for Philadelphia’s Artisan Exchange emerging companies network. Cooperhouse and panelists discuss the groups’ many capabilities and offerings that everyone—from start-up entrepreneurs to large company R&D heads—can resource.