23 May 2023

From Fonterra executive to plant-based protein business

From Nine To Noon, 10:05 am on 23 May 2023
Maury Leyland Penno and John Penno, founders of Leaft.

Maury Leyland Penno and John Penno, founders of Leaft. Photo: supplied

Maury Leyland Penno and her husband John Penno were previously high flyers in New Zealand's lucrative dairy industry.

Now the former Fonterra executive and founder of dairy company Synlait Milk are betting big on a plant-based protein. 

They are on a mission to create a new food system for Aotearoa, using technology that taps into one of the world's most abundant and sustainable food sources: protein from green leaves.

Kathryn talks to Maury about the business Leaft, the motivation behind the plant based push and why she wants to change the industry she grew up in.

She will be speaking at the E Tipu IFAMA World Conference in Christchurch next month.