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Former Wahlburgers CEO joins supply chain company

Founded in 2010, Freight Farms debuted the first vertical hydroponic farm built inside an intermodal shipping container,

March 24, 2020

Rick Vanzura, former CEO of Wahlburgers, is now leading Freight Farms, a provider of containerized vertical farming with a network of more than 300 IoT-connected farms. Its goal is to simplify supply chains and ensure reliable access to healthy, traceable food at a local level.

"What excites me about Freight Farms is the ability to join a passionate, mission-driven business that is already perfectly positioned to address the growing critical need for sustainable, hyper-local food production," Vanzura said in a company press release. "Freight Farms has an incredible technology platform as the originator of container farming, as well as a global footprint driving numerous sources of value. Beyond providing a meaningful solution across industries, Freight Farms' innovation addresses issues like urban land scarcity, traceability and the need for hyper-local solutions with speed to market. The current environment demonstrates more than ever the value of Freight Farms' offerings."

Vanzura has led strategy for Panera, General Motors Information Services and GameStop, and as the original CEO of Wahlburgers, he built the company from a single unit into one of America's fastest-growing restaurant brands. Vanzura's 20 years in president and C-level roles include a decade in foodservice working with markets central to Freight Farms' business. He also brings significant international experience to his role, having run Borders Group's nearly $1 billion international business.

"As co-founders, Jon Friedman and I have taken Freight Farms from an idea to help decentralize the food system to being the leader in containerized vertical farming that's truly putting the power of hyper-local food production into people's hands," Co-founder Brad McNamara said in the release. "Rick has amplified growth across interconnected industries, and his international experience lends itself to our ongoing global expansion. His personal alignment with Freight Farms' mission was crucial for us as well — he's a welcomed addition to the team as we scale."

Founded in 2010, Freight Farms debuted the first vertical hydroponic farm built inside an intermodal shipping container — the Leafy Green Machine —  with the mission of democratizing and decentralizing the local production of fresh, healthy food. Now with the Greenery and integral IoT data platform, farmhand, its technology empowers people anywhere in the world to grow more than 500 varieties of pesticide and herbicide-free produce, from leafy greens and herbs to root vegetables and vine crops, with 99.8% less water — onsite, year-round.