October 30, 31, November 1 & 2, 2014 | Boulder, CO
Hass Hassan
Hass is a Natural Foods Industry Pioneer and Entrepreneur with 40 years of Natural Products Industry Experience.
He began his career in 1973 as a driver delivering food for a natural foods coop in Denver Co. He then went on to found and manage the Rainbow Grocery, an early incarnation of a full service community based natural foods store in 1975. He was the founder and CEO of Alfalfa’s Markets, a US and Canadian retail operation from 1978 until 1996, the President of Wild Oats Markets and subsequently the founder and Executive Chairman of Fresh and Wild, an organic retail chain in the U.K..
His industry experience encompasses the US, Canadian and European markets. During his career Hass has received numerous awards and industry recognition including, the Natural Foods Industry Pioneer award, Chain Store Retail Executive of the Year, Boulder Entrepreneur of the Year , Naturally Boulder Lifetime Achievement award and finalist of the Ernst and Young National Entrepreneur of the year. Hass has served as an advisor to many start up industry companies and served on the board of over 25 companies and community organizations including Alfalfa’s Markets, Wild Oats Markets, Fresh and Wild, Izze Beverages, Zand Herbals, E-Town and Community Food share. He currently serves on the board of directors of Whole Foods Market, Pangea Organics, Justin’s Nut Butter and Only Natural Pet.
He is the General Managing Partner of Greenmont Capital Partners Fund 1 and a General Partner of Fund 2 , an investment firm specializing in investments in Organic and Natural product companies and companies aimed at the Lohas consumer. Greenmont Partners has to date made 14 industry company investments including, Izze Beverages, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Blue Horizon Seafood ,Uncle Matt’s , Door to Door Organics and Ecoproducts Hass was educated at Kings College, London and attended the Ealing School of Art where he studied photography and film making.