Gotham Greens says it is entering its next chapter of expansion by evolving its executive team to sustain its recent momentum in the sustainable produce market.
After leading the company since its 2008 inception, co-founder Viraj Puri is transitioning into the role of executive chairman, where he will focus on long-term strategy and board advisory. This shift coincides with the appointment of Craig Stevenson as CEO, a move designed to capitalize on the company’s record growth and its increasingly diverse footprint in the refrigerated food aisle.
Stevenson brings extensive experience scaling purpose-driven food and consumer brands, with a track record of driving commercial growth, operational excellence and category leadership, according to Gotham Greens. He most recently served as CEO of Lundberg Family Farms, a leading U.S. Regenerative Organic Certified food brand best known for its packaged rice and rice snacks.
The CPG and agriculture industry veteran began his career at Procter & Gamble. He later joined The Clorox Co. and served in a variety of sales, marketing and international senior leadership roles, including leading the Burt’s Bees business. He also served as CEO of Scholl’s Wellness Co.
“Craig is an experienced executive and thoughtful leader with a track record of transforming and growing brands that consumers love,” Puri says. “As Gotham Greens enters its next phase of growth, I’m confident Craig is the right person to lead the company forward, deepen our retail partnerships and innovate across packaged salads and fresh foods while staying true to our mission of transforming how and where fresh food is grown.
“We started out nearly two decades ago driven by a bold idea: to grow fresher, better-tasting salad greens closer to where people live,” he continues. “Today, we’re proud to be an industry leader in indoor farming and one of the most innovative greenhouse producers in the country. Our market share continues to grow 15% year over year, supported by a strong, recognizable brand built on freshness, flavor and reliability.”
Gotham Greens’ vertically integrated business model — combining advanced, high-tech greenhouse operations nationwide with consumer packaged goods innovation — has become a powerful engine for growth. The company says that, under Puri’s leadership, it pioneered a new market segment of greenhouse-grown leafy greens and built a nationally recognized brand that is beloved by consumers and retailers across the country.
Gotham Greens has grown from a single urban rooftop greenhouse in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2011, to a national network of greenhouses and distribution spanning coast to coast, helping to redefine the fresh produce aisle with locally grown, pesticide-free salad greens and herbs and an expanding portfolio of value-added food products.
“I’m honored and humbled to join Gotham Greens at such an exciting moment in its journey,” Stevenson says. “Gotham Greens has built an incredible brand and platform rooted in innovation, quality and sustainability. I look forward to working with Viraj and the entire team to expand our impact, bring more fresh food to more people and continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in fresh, sustainable food.”
Over the past decade, indoor farms have expanded rapidly in the U.S., with greenhouse production becoming a mainstream source of leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. The market share for indoor-grown packaged salad, lettuce and herbs combined is nearly 10% and has increased by 22% year over year, the company says.
Controlled environment agriculture represents a major evolution from traditional open-field farming by leveraging advanced technology, such as hydroponics, automation and precise climate controls, to grow crops year-round, regardless of weather or geography. By enabling year-round production, consistent quality and dependable supply, CEA addresses the volatility that has challenged the fresh produce supply chain.
Building on its leadership in greenhouse-grown leafy greens and herbs, Gotham Greens says it is accelerating growth in value-added categories, including salad kits, dressings, dips and cooking sauces — designed to meet consumer demand for fresh, convenient foods and meal solutions.
“Gotham Greens remains focused on delivering differentiated, premium products that combine freshness, flavor and functionality. With expanded national distribution across major retailers and continued investment in greenhouse infrastructure, new product innovation and brand building, Gotham Greens is well-positioned to drive household penetration, velocity and category leadership in the future,” Puri says. “I look forward to partnering with Craig and supporting our strategic priorities and commercial growth as executive chairman.”
