Nicole Sopko from Upton's Naturals Elected President of Plant Based Foods Association
Nicole Sopko, Vice President of Upton’s Naturals and an ethical vegan for 20+ years, has been elected president of the board of directors at the Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA). Proud to be a founding board member of the organization, she is committed to fostering growth and collaboration within the industry and working to further establish PBFA as a leading voice of the plant-based food industry and advocate for its now 180 members.
PBFA works to address challenges faced by plant-based food companies and remove obstructions that arise as the category grows. Independently owned Upton’s Naturals, which Nicole runs with her partner Dan Staackmann, has been a powerful force behind this mission by teaming with the PBFA and the Institute of Justice to fight unreasonable food labeling lawsuits that affect companies making meat alternatives. By challenging and being proactive against these unjust laws early, including cases in Mississippi and most recently Oklahoma, Upton’s Naturals and the PBFA hopes to create an easier path forward for the entire industry.