Dive Brief:
- Flashfood has appointed Jordan Schenck as CEO, effective immediately, the company said in an emailed announcement.
- Schenck, who is the food waste technology provider’s first woman CEO, has served in various executive leadership roles for the company and most recently held the title of president and chief operating officer.
- Nicholas Bertram is passing the baton to Schenck at a time of significant growth for Flashfood and after years of working closely together, Schenck told Grocery Dive.
Dive Insight:
Schenck plans to continue Flashfood’s ambitious growth trajectory as she takes over the company’s helm from Bertram, who served as CEO for just over a year.
“I get the [good] fortune of picking up a really, really solid plan strategy. It doesn’t make the job easier, but you’re going on a course that’s working,” Schenck said, noting that she and Bertram codeveloped the company’s strategy to date.
Prior to joining Flashfood, Schenck served as co-founder and chief revenue officer for wellness brand Sunwink and has additional experience in consumer marketing and company expansion in the food industry, according to the press release.
Schenck originally started as a board member for Flashfood, she said. In early 2023, Bertram recruited her to serve as the company’s chief brand officer. She was promoted twice more to chief customer officer and then became president and COO in late 2024.
“There is, quite literally, not one function of the business that I have not been extremely close to over the past couple of years that I’ve been here,” Schenck said.
Flashfood credits Schenck with leading many prominent growth initiatives, including its rebrand in January 2024, the launch of its updated consumer app and the debut of its platform for independent grocers, according to the press release.
Since Flashfood’s Series A fundraising round in 2022, the company has seen 200% revenue growth, per the announcement. This unfolded simultaneously with Flashfood achieving BCorp Certification, launching new products and replatforming its applications for expansion across the U.S. and Canada.
Moving forward, Schenck said she is prepared to “double down on growth,” primarily on two fronts: proliferation in North America and technology.
Flashfood currently operates in 33 states, but has its sights set on all 50, Schenck said, adding that working with all types of grocers — larger chains and independents — also continues to be a growth focus.
As the company looks to enter more markets, technology will be key to ensuring grocers can access and use the platform as seamlessly as possible and helping shoppers connect with their nearby store partners, Schenck said.
Last year, Flashfood refreshed its technology team, hiring a head of product as well as new engineering leadership, according to Schenck. She added that Flashfood also brought on a new head of revenue.
“We’ve really shifted the team in terms of our ability to not only innovate and not only leverage what we currently have but make it so that our company [can make] AI a part of the servicing we do and we can get more products on the platform,” she said. “All of those things are coming to fruition, and we’ve got a team that is now able to sell and mobilize it.”
Schenck said Flashfood does not currently plan to make other executive changes. However, the company intends to continue building out teams in new markets and regions as it expands its operations, she said.
As Flashfood’s first woman CEO, Schenck commented on the lack of female leadership in the technology sector, noting that she is the first woman CEO many of her employees have ever worked under.
“I think it’s a special moment for the company, but I also think it’s great for the industry,” Schenck said. “I just look forward to being able to be in this position and continuing to mentor and work with female leaders in our industry to show that it happens.”
