GoodLeaf Farms Names Andy O’Brien New President and CEO

Outgoing CEO Barry Murchie will transition to a role on the GoodLeaf Farms Board of Directors 

GUELPH, Ont. — GoodLeaf Farms is pleased to announce Andy O’Brien as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Barry Murchie, who is transitioning to a role on the company’s Board of Directors. 

Mr. O’Brien will assume the position effective Tuesday, July 2, 2024. 

He comes to GoodLeaf with a tremendous career in the food industry, most recently as CEO of M&M Food Market. Prior to this he led some of the most known consumer brands at General Mills, Campbells, Sunkist, MARS and Cara (as President of Kelsey’s and Montana’s). He also is on the Advisory Board for Northland Restaurant Properties (Moxies, Chop Steakhouse and Denny’s Canada), as well as the Board of Directors for Bakers Delight/COBS Canada. 

“We have set a strong foundation over the past half-decade getting GoodLeaf established with a national footprint to ensure food security and sovereignty for Canadians, and with his exceptional experience in the food and hospitality sector, Andy is going to unlock the growth that foundation can support,” says Mr. Murchie.  

Since opening its first indoor vertical farm in Guelph, Ont., in 2019, GoodLeaf has been in a significant expansion mode, adding farming facilities in Calgary and Montreal to establish itself as Canada’s only national supplier of domestic leafy greens. Mr. Murchie has been guiding that expansion as CEO of GoodLeaf for more than five years, and will continue to be a major contributor to the future growth of the business from a Board position. 

“GoodLeaf Farms presents an amazing opportunity to take a young company with roots in the tech sector and turn it into a strong consumer food brand,” says Mr. O’Brien. “GoodLeaf is poised to deliver fresh, high-quality leafy greens to Canadians from coast-to-coast. I am excited to lead GoodLeaf in this new chapter.” 

With roots on Canada’s East Coast, GoodLeaf’s innovative indoor farms use proprietary technology to create a controlled and efficient indoor farm that can grow fresh produce anywhere in the world, 365 days of the year. The system combines innovations in LED lighting with leading-edge hydroponic techniques to produce sustainable, safe, pesticide-free, nutrient-dense leafy greens. 

Between its three farms, it produces more than five million pounds of fresh, leafy greens annually for consumers and restaurants coast to coast. GoodLeaf products include Micro Radish, Micro Arugula, Micro Broccoli, Micro Asian Blend, Pea Shoots, Spicy Mustard Medley, Baby Spinach, Baby Arugula, Crisp Lettuce, and its Sweet & Spicy Mix, Four Seasons Mix and Crisp Spring Mix blends. 

For more information, please visit goodleaffarms.com. Follow GoodLeaf Farms on Instagram 

@goodleaffarms and Like it on Facebook at /GoodLeafFarms.  

About GoodLeaf Farms: 

With a passion for delicious, nutrient-rich greens, GoodLeaf was founded in Halifax in 2011. Using an innovative technology and leveraging multi-level vertical farming, GoodLeaf has created a controlled and efficient indoor farm that can grow fresh produce anywhere in the world, 365 days of the year. The system combines innovations in LED lighting with leading edge hydroponic techniques to produce sustainable, safe, pesticide-free, nutrient-dense leafy greens. GoodLeaf has ongoing R&D Programs in collaboration with the University of Guelph, Dalhousie University and Acadia University.   

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