GreenSpace Brands CEO is stepping down

Matthew von Teichman is stepping down as president and CEO of GreenSpace Brands--the Toronto-based company he founded nearly two decades ago. His last day is July 17.

Von Teichman got his start in the food industry when he launched Life Choices Natural Foods in 2002, which would evolve over the years to become GreenSpace Brands in 2013. Life Choices Natural Foods started off as an organic frozen food business selling organic pizzas, frozen dinners, burritos and perogies.

While some of the products performed well, they didn't capture consumers' imaginations, von Teichman told Canadian Grocer during a 2018 interview. Things changed in 2008 when he launched a natural chicken nugget made with whole cuts of meat, with sprouted grains and flax as a coating and that was baked rather than fried.

Seeing consumer appetite for healthy foods, von Teichman turned his focus to other meat items such as hamburgers, sausages and fish sticks made with cleaner ingredients. In 2013, he launched GreenSpace Brands which, today, is home to several premium natural food brands including Love Child Organics, Central Roast and Cedar.

"The Board of Directors would like to thank Matt for his leadership and service to GreenSpace, and wish him well in his future endeavours," said Paul Henderson, executive chairman of the board of directors, in a press release.