Derek Sarno

Derek is the co-founder of Wicked Foods, Inc. Developer on the Plant Chef brand and owner/developer of the Wicked Kitchen brand in the U.K., and serves as Executive Chef & Director of Plant-Based Innovation for Tesco PLC, leading the company’s efforts to bring delicious, unpretentious vegan foods to market.

Prior to co-founding Wicked Foods and partnering with Tesco, Derek served as the Senior Global Executive Chef for Whole Foods Market, where he oversaw global research and development for the company’s prepared foods department, worked with suppliers and leadership to develop and promote plant-based foods across the organization, and served as Culinary Director for the WFM Academy for Conscious Leadership.

Derek is a serial entrepreneur, founding several award-winning restaurants and foodservice companies in the United States, including the One Hundred Club, Mahalo’s Catering, and Mizuna's. Derek also served as the resident Chef & Gardener at Padma Samye Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery and retreat center in upstate New York. During his years at the monastery, Derek grew and cooked the meals for the Sangha, and learned how to sit quietly. This time helped him become less of a jerk.

Derek is the co-author of the Whole Foods Cookbook (Fall 2018), and the Wicked Healthy Cookbook (Spring 2018).

Derek Sarno is the Co-Founder at Wicked Foods, based in Europe. With a background in Food and Beverage, Derek Sarno has a rich history of leadership and innovation. Explore their detailed professional journey, key connections, and contributions to the industry on our platform.