Dan Staackmann
Dan Staackmann is the founder and president of Upton’s Naturals, an independently-owned, ethical vegan food company based in Chicago, IL. A 25-year vegan and long-time advocate for animal rights and environmental sustainability, Dan founded Upton’s Naturals in 2006 with a DIY attitude and slow-growth business model. Beginning in a shared kitchen, he created and introduced the first integrally-flavored packaged seitan. After testing the market in a handful of local restaurants, Upton’s Naturals Seitan proved to warrant a product packed for retail and a dedicated production facility. The seitan launched in a limited number of natural food stores in the Midwest and reached national distribution by 2011.
In 2013, Dan worked with award-winning architects, UrbanLab, to design and build a mixed-use building in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood that includes private living space, offices, production space, and a café called Upton’s Breakroom. In 2015, after growing a loyal base of customers, Upton’s Naturals was the first in the world to launch pre-cooked, pre-seasoned young Jackfruit in a retort pouch, which is now available in 20+ countries worldwide. In April 2018, the company expanded into a new production facility that’s more than six times the size of the West Town facility, where Upton’s Breakroom remains. Upton’s Naturals’ latest products are shelf-stable, heat-and-serve Ch’eesy Macs and Thai-inspired Real Meal Kits.
Related Cases
Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Food Freedom
Oklahoma requires vegan products to rewrite their labels to the meat lobby’s satisfaction
Oklahoma requires plant-based meat products to include a massive disclaimer on their label, similar to that seen on tobacco products. IJ is challenging this foolish regulation that does nothing to promote public safety and also violates the First Amendment rights of plant-based meat companies.
Commercial Speech | First Amendment | Food Freedom
Mississippi Makes Selling “Veggie Burgers” a Crime
In 2019, after lobbying from the meat industry, Mississippi banned plant-based burgers from using meat-related words, such as burger or hotdog, in their marketing. IJ stepped in to represent plant-based companies in a First Amendment challenge to this law, and eventually the state backed down.