Welcome to Phyto Organix

Sustainable Proteins for a Healthier Planet

My journey to PHYTO ORGANIX

Corporate Headshots for Chris Theal at Carburn Park in SE Calgar
Chris ThealFounder President & CEO, Director

TBI — an acronym that prior to January 2020, I had no context for. But from a Friday afternoon full-tempo game of outdoor rink hockey with my then 19-year-old son to what felt like a routine dining out the next night, culminated in a Traumatic Brain Injury. A fractured skull and severe frontal lobe bruising—TBI was new to me and is something that in its first several weeks I can only describe as ‘brain pain’. But with military discipline, I walked the line that the incredible neurologists at the Calgary Brain Injury Clinic painted for the path to recovery.

A critical component of my recovery was incorporating an anti-inflammatory diet. Two years later, that regime – a whole food diet consisting of a high intake of Omega 3 fats, plant foods and natural sugars and removing caffeine, dairy, gluten and starch – is a lifestyle diet and the outcomes have been great.

What started as researching all things related to neuro nutrition set me on my journey down the alternative protein path. Energy, balance and self-care are my outcomes from this journey, and it has created my passion to innovate sustainable food choices for consumers. As an Alberta entrepreneur, I am equally passionate to play a leading role in diversifying our energy-centric economy and partnering with farmers to maximize the value add from our agricultural resource endowment.

About Phyto Organix

Phyto Organix is an independent Alberta-based innovator, processor, developer and distributor of conventional and organic plant-based protein for the food and beverage industry. Our project will source yellow peas to produce high purity, protein isolate from our wet fractionation facility in Strathmore Alberta.

Our Vision

Sustainable proteins for a healthier planet

Our Mission

To locally develop innovative and sustainably processed plant proteins for health and wellness-conscious food consumers

Our Motto

The sustainable fuel of life

Our Values

Health

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Wellness

Safety

Self Care

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Community

Sustainable Choices

Our core values define our corporate culture and are an intrinsic part of the value-added products we deliver to consumers. Phyto Organix fulfills a multifaceted role in contributing to the future of global food security, and we are committed to environmental and sustainable practices throughout the agriculture and protein technology value chains.

Our core values:
• Act with integrity and honesty
• Ensure safety in both our process and our products at all times
• Respect and embrace diversity
• Inspire and innovate as a team
• Promote health, wellness and self-care
• Champion sustainability and food security in our industry
• Invest in our people, our partners and our communities

Sustainable Plant Protein

Management Team

The Phyto Organix Management Team brings together over 100 years of food science, agriculture, engineering, finance, investment banking, private equity, business development and regulatory experience.

Our Team

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Chris Theal, CFA, MBA, ICD.DFounder, President & CEO, Director
Biography

Chris is the Founder, President & CEO of Phyto Organix Foods Inc. and has over 25 years of business and leadership experience as an Alberta entrepreneur. Most recently, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Velvet Energy Ltd., a private company backed by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and private equity holders, including Warburg Pincus. Prior to that he founded an energy hedge fund and was the founding partner of a full service energy investment boutique, Tristone Capital Inc. A former officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, he is the Past President of the Royal Military Colleges of Canada Foundation. Chris holds an Undergraduate degree in Economics, with Distinction, from the Royal Roads Military College and a Master of Business Administration (Finance) from the University of British Columbia; is a Chartered Financial Analyst Charterholder (2000) and holds the ICD.D designation from the Directors Education Program.

Outdoor business portraits for Phyto Organix Foods at Carburn Pa
David Vetters, CPA, CAChief Financial Officer
Biography

David has 28 years of broad experience in capital markets, finance, accounting and leadership with roles in private equity, investment banking and audit. Most recently, he was a Managing Partner with Annapolis Capital, an energy focused private equity investment firm, where, among other duties, he was responsible for the design and implementation of Annapolis’ Responsible Investment Policy and ESG (Environment, Social, Governance) reporting and portfolio company benchmarking. Prior to Annapolis, David held senior and leadership positions with a number of investment banks including BMO Capital Markets, Macquarie Capital Markets Canada and Tristone Capital, where he spent considerable time advising private company clients on financings and merger, acquisition and sale transactions. David obtained his Chartered Accountant designation following articling with Price Waterhouse in Saskatoon and Calgary and holds a Bachelor of Administration (Accounting) degree.

Outdoor business portraits for Phyto Organix Foods at Carburn Pa
Drew Sharp, P.Ag, MBAAgribusiness Manager
Biography

Drew is the Agribusiness Manager for Phyto Organix Foods Inc. and has over 6 years of experience working in the agriculture industry throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. Most recently, he was the North American Agriculture Manager for Boortmalt, the world’s largest maltster, with a global footprint of 27 malting plants in 15 countries spread across 5 continents. Prior to his time with Boortmalt, he worked in grain merchandising and agronomy with Rahr Malting located in Alix, Alberta. Drew is a professional agrologist with the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists and holds an undergraduate degree in Agronomy, with Distinction, from the University of Saskatchewan and a Master of Business Administration in Food and Agribusiness from the University of Guelph.

Outdoor business portraits for Phyto Organix Foods at Carburn Pa
Laure Laval, PhD, MScLead, Biochemistry and Innovation
Biography

Laure brings 12 years of experience in product development, food formulations, product commercialization and leading R&D teams. Her experience in a variety of fields and her multidisciplinary training allowed her to develop a global vision of the product launch chain. Most recently, she was the Applied Research and Development Manager for North America for Lallemand, one of the leaders in yeast and probiotics production, working closely with the commercial team. She has a great balance of food technology competency and commercial acumen.  Laure holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Biotechnologies from the National Institute of Applied Science in Lyon, France and a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Paris Sud.

Outdoor business portraits for Phyto Organix Foods at Carburn Pa
Martin Vogel, CPA, CASenior Manager, Finance
Biography

Martin has 15 years of experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, treasury and audit. Most recently he was the Manager of Finance and Accounting at Velvet Energy Ltd., where his responsibilities included financial analysis, financial reporting, treasury and budgeting. Prior to Velvet, Martin worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Calgary where he obtained his Chartered Accountant designation. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree from the University of Calgary.

Outdoor business portraits for Phyto Organix Foods at Carburn Pa
Tyler Arnott, P.EngPlant Manager
Biography

Tyler is the Plant Manager for Phyto’s Strathmore plant protein processing facility.  Tyler has 18 years of operations and engineering experience in manufacturing facilities spanning fertilizer, upstream energy, downstream refining, and petrochemicals.  In those industries, he has filled a variety of roles including front line engineering support, strategic and operations planning, operations leadership and most recently as a technical services manager for a new design build facility in Alberta’s industrial heartland.  Tyler has led large operational sites with diverse teams larger than 200 people.  Tyler is a Professional Engineer with APEGA and has held Responsible Member duties at previous employers.  Tyler has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Systems Engineering from the University of Regina.

Board of Directors

The Phyto Organix Board of Directors is a diverse group of leaders that bring creative tension to the boardroom and oversight of the executive team.

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Vincent ChahleyIndependent Businessman – Chairman
Biography

Vincent brings 40 years of experience in the investment banking, oil and gas and venture capital/angel investing industries. As an investment banker, Vincent was a founding partner of Tristone Capital and KERN Partners, co headed the Calgary office for RBC Capital Markets and began his career with Burns Fry in Toronto. Vincent has served on numerous private and public company boards and in addition to Phyto Organix, is currently a director of Velvet Energy and the Aequitas Neo Stock Exchange. As an angel investor he is an active member of the Creative Destruction Lab working as a mentor in CDL Rockies for the Ag and Prime Streams and in CDL Wisconsin in the Health and Risk Streams and is the founder of the UCeed Haskayne Student Fund, a venture capital fund managed by students at the University of Calgary.

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Scott Exner, LLBAgriculture & Food Lawyer, MLT Aikins LLP – Independent Director
Biography

Scott is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and a partner in MLT Aikins LLP. He has provided legal and business advice to food and agriculture companies for 30 years. An international legal ranking publication has consistently recognized Scott as one of the top food and agribusiness lawyers in Canada. He was also recently recognized as one of the Top 50 most influential individuals in Canadian agriculture. In addition, Scott co-developed and instructs Food and Agricultural Law at the University of Calgary College of Law.

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Paul Hemsley, B.Sc., MBAInvestor & Corporate Director – Independent Director
Biography

Paul is an entrepreneur, having founded and built Hemmera Envirochem Inc., an environmental consulting and engineering firm that he expanded across Canada over 23 years before subsequently selling it to Ausenco in 2017. He has held various appointments over his career including sitting on the federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, and the BC provincial Green Energy Advisory Task Force. Paul is a graduate of Queen’s University (B.Sc.) and also holds an MBA from Dalhousie University. He resides in West Vancouver, BC and gives back to the community by supporting the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation and the Family Services of the North Shore.

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Margot Naudie, CFA, MBAInvestor & Corporate Director – Independent Director
Biography

Margot is a seasoned 25-year capital markets professional with global investment expertise as a Senior Portfolio Manager for long-only and long/short North American and global natural resource portfolios. Margot has held senior roles at leading multi-billion-dollar asset management firms, including TD Asset Management, Marret Asset Management, and CPP Investment Board. Margot was cited as a Brendan Wood TopGun Investment Mind (Platinum) for five consecutive years. She is an active and engaged Independent Director on several public and private company boards where she acts as Lead Director; serves on Investment Committees; and chairs Audit, Compensation, and HR and ESG Committees. Margot has a Bachelor of Arts in Politics/Economics from McGill University, an MBA from the Ivey School of Business, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

People & Culture

Build Your Career with Phyto Organix

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Be part of a dynamic team that is not only building a company…. we’re building an industry. At Phyto Organix, we’re producing plant protein for the health and wellness conscious consumer with talented individuals who share our passion to grow a unique agri-business in Alberta.
Our culture is energetic, collaborative, innovative and is built on our core values of health, wellness, self-care and sustainable choices. We foster a work environment where employees can be their best and where our people are motivated, engaged and excited to come to work.

Guided by strong leadership and a clear vision, the Phyto Organix team operates in an environment of respect, integrity and trust. We never compromise on safety, and we are committed to a respectful work environment.

The Phyto Organix Experience

PURPOSE AND PASSION

At Phyto Organix you will connect with something greater than yourself and achieve more.

You’ll have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution toward global food security and demonstrate our commitment to sustainable practices.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Broaden your skills and business knowledge as you work closely with an experienced Executive team in a collaborative environment. Our leadership team is passionate about sharing their extensive business experience and knowledge with young professionals interested in growing their leadership, critical thinking and communication skills and enhancing their business acumen.

We provide both internal and external leadership training and ongoing learning opportunities.

We enable and empower every employee to think, create, innovate and own your contribution. Test new methods, approaches and collaborate amidst constructive creative tension with your peers.

We will challenge you to take on high-impact projects, expand your technical skills, broaden your experiences and exceed your own expectations.

WELLNESS

Great benefits for you and your family:

• Health and prescriptions
• Dental
• Life Insurance
• Disability insurance
• Health Spending Account
• Travel Insurance
• Employee Assistance Plan

START-UP

As a ground floor employee during the start-up phase, you will have input into the direction of employee programs, community giving, events and policies. We want your feedback on what’s important to you as we build our culture.

We are the ideal size to allow each employee the opportunity to work with all disciplines and begin to understand all facets of the agri-business.

Learning and continuous improvement are a big part of our culture because we know it’s the best way to grow our business and ourselves.

HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT

We believe in the power of in-person partnership and collaboration. But the pandemic has also highlighted that the line between work and personal time has blurred, requiring flexibility. Our work environment embraces this balance, as we know working remotely and accountability can coexist.

COMMUNITY

As an active member of the communities in which we operate, it is critical to Phyto Organix that we play a role in enhancing well-being, ensuring sustainable practices and being a great neighbour in the communities in which we operate.

Our project will see a significant capital investment into protein fractionation capacity in Alberta, add over 50 jobs and yield a 4.0x economic multiplier from our value-added processes vs. Canada’s legacy raw/unrefined pulse export model. We have launched our $25 million common share private placement to accredited investors in eligible jurisdictions via subscription agreement, with closing of the financing this summer. Inquiries from eligible investors may be sent to info@phytoorganixfoods.com

We are always looking for great people. Please submit your resume to careers@phytoorganixfoods.com or connect with us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on our job listings.

Our current opportunities are listed below:

Pulse Growers

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We look forward to establishing lasting relationships with pulse growers in southern Alberta. We will partner directly with farmers to source 40,000 metric tonnes per year of yellow peas and seek to build organic yellow pea feedstock supply through our proprietary Organic Farm Program (OFP). Stay tuned for further details related to our agronomy and feedstock objectives, and in the interim, let’s connect and start building our partnership. Connect with us at feedstock@phytoorganixfoods.com

Marketing & Offtake

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Our wet fractionation process will produce 9,000 metric tons per year of yellow pea protein isolate, yielding 92% of the protein contained in yellow peas, with 85-90% purity and optimal functional properties, including colour, taste, texture, solubility and gellability. We will also produce over 18,000 metric tonnes per year of starch, with offtake applications ranging from a sustainable source of cattle feed to feedstock in the alternative biofuels industry. We will also produce 4,000 metric tonnes per year of human consumable fibre.

For further information, contact us at offtake@phytoorganixfoods.com

News

Phyto Organix Closes Private Placement

Calgary, Alberta, June 30, 2021 / – Phyto Organix Foods Inc. (“the Company”) is pleased to announce that it has closed a private placement of common shares for total proceeds of C$3 million. The Founder, officers, directors and business [...]