Evolve CPG Podcast Interview with ZEGO’s Colleen Kavanagh

Last Updated on April 27, 2022 by Colleen

Join Colleen and Evolve CPG founder Gage Mitchell as they talk about food and politics and how consumers must drive the change to a cleaner food system.

From the Podcast Recap at EvolveCPG.com

“The general trend towards healthier living and better information about nutrition has many layers, with one of the main tenets being an increase in transparency from food brands about the ingredients used and their sources. 

Today we are joined by Colleen Kavanagh, the CEO and Co-Founder of ZEGO Foods, to talk about how the company is enabling its customers to live healthy and fulfilling lives, and supporting achievement on multiple levels. 

Colleen shares some of her personal journey with nutrition and how this led into her career, the important shifts in the industry in recent years, how public policy fits into the picture, and the central theme of transparency at ZEGO! So, for a great check-in on the present and future of the world of healthy foods, be sure to listen in with and see what Colleen has to say!’

Key Points From This Episode:

  • How customer action can quickly impact the industry and make a meaningful change!
  • Advice from Colleen around the legalities of going to market and a safe marketing plan.
  • Colleen’s background and how her own celiac disease diagnosis led her getting into nutrition.
  • ZEGO Foods’ process to becoming a B-Corporation and the processes around certification.
  • Pesticides and diseases; the research that has illuminated the dangers of what we consume.
  • The launch of ZEGO Foods and how Colleen formulated the vision for the company.
  • Concerns about safety and assurances related to allergies and ingredients lists.
  • The centrality of the testing process at ZEGO Foods and bringing these practices up to speed.
  • Information on A Better Course, Colleen’s school nutrition program!
  • Thinking about the next few years at ZEGO; the two current goals of the company.
  • How local work in San Francisco deeply impacted Colleen’s philosophy.
Gage Mitchell
Gage Mitchell

Founder & Host of Evolve CPG, an online community and podcast for purpose-driven leaders of sustainable consumer packaged goods brands actively pursuing better products, better brands, and better leadership. Gage is a leader and connector in the clean food movement.

๐Ÿ“ Whereโ€™s Zฤ’GO? Oregon and Washington, weโ€™re coming to you! ๐ŸŒฒ

You can now find Zฤ’GO at EVERY Market of Choice location across Oregon: Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, West Linn, Corvallis, Eugene, Bend, Medford and Ashland.

Look for two of our favorites on the shelf:
๐Ÿฅฃ Double Protein Oats: about twice the digestible protein of typical rolled oats
๐ŸŒฑ Regenerative Organic Certified Oats: grown in ways that help restore the soil

Both are organic and purity-protocol gluten-free, and every bag is purity-tested. Scan the QR code to see the results for yourself.

Tag your oat-loving Oregon friends and tell us which store you shop at! ๐Ÿ‘‡

#WheresZEGO #MarketOfChoice #ZEGOfoods #PurityTested #GlutenFree

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โ€œClean eatingโ€ is trendingโ€”but what does *clean* really mean? ๐ŸŒฑ

Simple ingredients are a good start, but what about hidden allergens, pesticide residues, and heavy metals? A clean label doesnโ€™t tell you everything.

At ZEGO, we believe in **proof over promises**. That means rigorous purity testing and transparent results you can check for yourself.

Want to know what to look for when choosing your food? Read our latest blog to learn what clean eating actually means and why transparency matters.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read the full article: https://zegofoods.com/clean-eating-what-it-means/

Because clean food should come with proof.

#CleanEating #FoodTransparency #FoodSafety #AllergenFriendly #PurityVerified

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๐Ÿฅฃ Know whatโ€™s in your bowl.

At ZEGO, we believe you deserve to know whatโ€™s in your food. Thatโ€™s why our oats are Purity Verified, with lab results you can check yourself.

Hereโ€™s how:
โœ… Scan the QR on your package
โœ… Enter your Best By date
โœ… See the lab results for your lot

Peace of mind, one bowl at a time.

๐Ÿ’ฌ Have you scanned your ZEGO bag yet?

#zegofoods #knowwhatsinyourbowl #purityverified #glutenfreeoats

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๐Ÿฅฃ Find ZEGO on shelves this October!

You can find ZEGO Double Protein Organic Oatmeal at all Andronicoโ€™s Community Market locations and select Safeway stores in San Francisco.

When you find a bag, flip it over and scan the QR code to see the lab results for your specific batch.

๐Ÿ“ Found us at your local store? Tag the location in the comments to help others find us, too!

#ZEGOFoods #WheresZEGO #GlutenFreeOats #RegenerativeOatmeal #NaturalGrocery

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โ€œTry it folks. Itโ€™s really the Best Breakfast Ever!โ€ ๐Ÿฅฃโญโญโญโญโญ

Jo P. found a new morning favorite, and we love how they make it their own! Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s in their bowl:

๐ŸŽ Hot, creamy ZEGO Double Protein Organic Oatmeal
๐Ÿ A dollop of applesauce or a drizzle of maple syrup for a special treat
๐ŸŒพ Specialty raw rolled oats, grown by U.S. farmers

โœ… Purity Verified: third-party tested for 500+ agricultural chemicals and heavy metals, and gluten-free (<5 ppm)

Whatโ€™s your go-to oatmeal topping? Tell us in the comments! ๐Ÿ‘‡

Shop link in bio

#ZEGO #ContainsPeaceOfMind #PurityVerified #OatmealLove #RealReviews

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๐ŸŒฑ What do oats and chickpeas have in common? They can help support healthier soil when grown together in thoughtful crop rotations.

Oats use nitrogen from the soil as they grow and build protein. Chickpeas and other legumes have a unique ability to help replenish nitrogen in the soil through a natural process called nitrogen fixation.

One of the most fascinating signs of this process happens underground. Legume roots can develop small nodules that indicate the plant is actively working with soil microbes to support nitrogen cycling. ๐ŸŒฟ

It's a powerful reminder that healthy food starts long before harvest. What happens beneath the surface helps support resilient soil, thriving crops, and a stronger food system.
At ZEGO, we believe better food begins with understanding where it comes from, how it's grown, and the health of the soil that makes it possible. ๐ŸŒŽ

#ZEGOFoods #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #RegenerativeFarming #FoodTransparency

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Healthy soil. Stronger harvests. Better food. 

On our Montana farm tour, we saw how thoughtful farming practices help support healthier growing systems. Crop rotation, including planting lentils and chickpeas alongside oats, helps naturally replenish soil nutrients and promote long-term soil health. It's one example of how farmers work with nature to build more resilient food systems.

At ZEGO, we believe better food starts at the source, with transparency every step of the way.

#ZEGOFoods #RegenerativeAgriculture #SoilHealth #FoodTransparency #OrganicFarming

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๐Ÿฅฃ Simple. Protein-packed. Made for busy mornings.

Breakfast is evolving, and more people are looking for foods that are quick, simple, nourishing, and made with ingredients they can trust.

Thatโ€™s why we created ZEGO Organic Double Protein Oats. ๐Ÿ’š

With nearly double the digestible protein of typical oats, 20โ€“40% more fiber than standard rolled oats, and Purity Verified: third-party tested for 500+ agricultural chemicals and heavy metals; gluten-free (<5 ppm). Itโ€™s a simple way to bring more nutrition and peace of mind to your morning bowl.

The best part? Make it your own with fresh fruit, a drizzle of honey, nut butter, or yogurt. ๐Ÿ“๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฅœ

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read our latest blog: LINK IN BIO

#ZEGOFoods #DoubleProteinOats #ProteinBreakfast #FoodTransparency #PurityVerified

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Edacious FoodData just launched, and ZEGO LLC is proud to be included! 

We tested with Edacious and are proud to share our results publicly and be part of a platform that's finally showing the real variability that exists across the foods we all eat.

Check out our page, and explore the platform: LINK IN BIO

#ZEGOFoods #Edacious #FoodData #FoodTransparency #FoodTraceability

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๐Ÿ’š Food transparency is gaining momentum.

Californiaโ€™s proposed โ€œNon-Ultra-Processedโ€ seal could be another step toward a future where consumers have greater access to meaningful food information and independent verification.

At ZEGO, we believe everyone has a right to know whatโ€™s in their food. Thatโ€™s why our Purity Verifiedยฎ program makes testing information easy to access. Simply scan the QR code on your package to see the information behind the food you choose.

Curious about what this proposal could mean for the future of food transparency? Read our latest blog article: LINK IN BIO

#FoodTransparency #PurityVerified #ZEGOFoods #KnowYourFood #PeaceOfMind

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๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿซ ๐— ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฐ๐—ต๐—ฎ + ๐—ฏ๐—น๐˜‚๐—ฒ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฟ๐˜† + ๐—น๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ป = ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐˜‚๐—น๐˜๐—ถ๐—บ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ฒ ๐˜€๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ผ๐˜๐—ต๐—ถ๐—ฒ ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฏ๐—ผ! This creamy, refreshing smoothie packs in plant-based protein, greens, and a delicious burst of blueberry-lemon flavor. โœจ

Matcha Blueberry Lemon Protein Smoothie
๐Ÿฅ› 1 cup gluten-free plant-based milk
๐Ÿฅฌ 1 cup baby spinach
๐ŸŒ 1 banana
๐Ÿซ ยฝ cup blueberries
๐Ÿ’ช 2 tbsp ZEGO Sacha Inchi Protein Powder
๐ŸŒพ 3 tbsp ZEGO Blueberry Lemon Poppy Superfood Oatmeal
๐Ÿต 1ยฝ tsp matcha powder
๐ŸงŠ ยฝ cup ice

Blend everything on high for 30+ seconds until smooth. Add more milk for your desired texture, pour, and enjoy! ๐Ÿ’š

Save this recipe for your next morning smoothie! โœจ
#ZEGOFoods #MatchaSmoothie #ProteinSmoothie #SmoothieRecipe #HealthyRecipes

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๐Ÿ“ ๐—ช๐—›๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—˜โ€™๐—ฆ ๐—ญ๐—˜๐—š๐—ข? ๐—–๐—›๐—œ๐—–๐—”๐—š๐—ข๐—Ÿ๐—”๐—ก๐——! ๐ŸŒ†๐Ÿ’š

Weโ€™re so excited to announce that ZEGO is rolling out across the Chicagoland area at Jewel-Osco! ๐ŸŽ‰

You can now find some of your ZEGO favorites on shelves, including:

-Double Protein Oatmeal
-ROC Oatmeal
-Blueberry Lemon Poppy Superfood Oatmeal
-Cinnamon & Spice Superfood Oatmeal

From the city to the suburbs, weโ€™re thrilled to be bringing ZEGO to more shoppers across the Chicago area. ๐Ÿ›’๐ŸŒฑ

So the next time youโ€™re shopping at Jewel-Osco, keep an eye out for ZEGO! ๐Ÿ‘€

๐Ÿ“ธ Find us? Snap a photo, tag @ZEGOFoods, and show us where you spotted us!

Chicago, weโ€™re so happy to be here. ๐Ÿ’š

#ZEGOFoods #WheresZEGO #JewelOsco #PurityVerified #BreakfastMadeBetter

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๐Ÿ”Ž Food transparency is gaining momentum.

New federal proposals related to GRAS ingredients and ultra-processed foods reflect a growing conversation about giving consumers better access to information about their food. At ZEGO, we believe people deserve meaningful, transparent information so they can make informed choices with confidence.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read more on the ZEGO blog - link in bio

#FoodTransparency #FoodSafety #KnowYourFood #ZEGO

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