F&B LA 2019

Molly Mapel
Senior Manager of Brand Storytelling
Mendocino Farms


Molly’s professional journey has taken her from environmental nonprofit administration to restaurant industry marketing and branding, with stops at the Farmers Market along the way. After growing up in a vegetarian family in the small California mountain town of Idyllwild, then graduating with a degree in English and Creative Writing from New York University, Molly embarked upon her mission-driven career at NRDC, the country’s leading environmental law and advocacy group, where she worked on ecosystem and marine mammal protection among other pressing issues. Combining her passions for animal welfare and compelling plant-based food, she decided to take an entrepreneurial leap and left NRDC to start a vegan baking business, utilizing 100% organic and Fair Trade Certified ingredients in breads, cookies, and pies she sold weekly at the prestigious Santa Monica Farmers Market. From there, Molly joined Mendocino Farms, a rapidly growing premium fast casual restaurant group founded on the values of creating neighborhood gathering places, “selling happy” to guests, and supporting deserving local farmers and food artisans. Molly brings her relationships with farmers and her gift for storytelling to help further Mendocino Farms’ objective of bringing people together over delicious food they can feel good eating.

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