ABOUT US
Tootie’s was founded in 2019 by engaged citizens and vegans Sarah Speare, an award-winning food entrepreneur, and Barbara Fiore, a joyful fermenter, gardener, long-time educator, and outdoor enthusiast.
They created Tootie’s Tempeh to model how food production can support local and sustainable agriculture, foster a more democratic economy, and eliminate single-use plastics—all while satisfying discerning tastes and not harming our animal friends.
Both previously worked together teaching people how to effect systems change towards a more equitable, humane, and sustainable future.
Sarah, who previously led a consumer foods company that sold to a large competitor, serves as Tootie’s CEO and Barbara, formerly the Chief Fermentation Officer, has moved on to new adventures.
More Team Members
Kate Musser, Operations Manager, joined Tootie’s in July, 2022. She grew up on an organic farm and has been working in food service, most recently as a sous-chef. She has a degree in hospitality and is a food safety expert, a plant-based chef, and has been looking for a food production position aligned with her values - which happily she found at Tootie’s!
Ben Sweeney, Production Assistant, joined Tootie’s in July, 2023. He has worked in production and packaging in the beer brewing industry and is also an electrical technician. He serves in the Army Reserves helping to turn power back on after big storms and disasters. He enjoys living in Biddeford with his girlfriend where they both have been enjoying eating Tootie’s since our launch!
Stuart Hewitt, Production Assistant, joined Tootie’s in August, 2023. He has worked as a baker at Big Tree Foods and as a baker and production manager designing and producing gluten free and vegan baked goods at Barista + Bites in Portland. Prior to that he has been a farmhand and kitchen assistant at Snell Family Farm. Stuart is a graduate of Wheaton College and is food safety certified.
Matt Kaplan, Sales Leader, joined Tootie’s in October, 2023. Matt has spent his career in food service and restaurant technology. He has a degree in hospitality and most recently ran a vegan pop-up company in Boston called Mobile Cooks. He moved to Maine with his wife to live in the beauty of nature. He enjoys cooking (especially with Tootie’s Tempeh), carpentry, reading, basketball and soccer.
WHO WAS TOOTIE?
She was an early follower of Rachel Carson and Silent Spring, and often butted heads with town council members. She was authentic, unique, immensely talented in the arts, and an entrepreneur. She was mother to co-founder, Sarah Speare, and the company was named in her honor. Tootie was her nickname and the logo is of her smiling face along with her trademark sunglasses that she never took off.
Driven by values
As a worker-owned cooperative, our core values drive every step and decision within the company.
We produce delicious, organic, easy-to-prepare tempeh using the most sustainable practices possible.
We commit to creating and supporting community by sourcing, making, and distributing our tempeh locally.
We commit to providing a workplace that fosters joy, creativity, equity, and innovation, and allows employees to be owners, share profits, and have a democratic say in company decisions.
We aim to restore the health and well-being of our planet and to serve as a model for the world we want to live in: one that treats people, animals, and the earth with kindness, respect, and love.
“This is by far the BEST tempeh I have ever eaten! Soooo good! No other brand has even come close. Everything from the texture, the fresh taste, the delicious flavors and the packaging (avoiding that second layer of plastic!) makes Tootie’s Tempeh the only brand I would ever buy. And it is run by women. Yes!”
—Reinette, Bar Harbor, Maine
WHY WORKER OWNED?
From the start we wanted to support a more democratic economy where workers are empowered, participate in company decision-making, and share in the profits, so we incorporated as a worker-owned cooperative.
We measure success by a bottom line that equally prioritizes the health and well-being of people, animals, and the planet. We are here for the long run, dedicated to supporting local agriculture, our workers, communities, and this beautiful planet.
Once our Maine location is well established we will expand with additional production facilities in other regions of the United States using a cooperative franchise model. This way, sustainable Tootie’s Tempeh can be available across the US so that wherever Tootie’s is purchased it will always be supporting local farmers, workers, and communities as well as minimizing transportation. Local everywhere. We think this is a great model for our food system.
Learn more about worker-owned cooperatives
Here are some resources we recommend for anyone considering starting or converting to a cooperative or learning more in general about coops.
National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) https://ncbaclusa.coop/
Start.coop (an accelerator program for scaleable early-stage cooperatives) www.start.coop
US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC) https://www.usworker.coop/home/
Cooperative Development Institute (CDI) (Supports cooperatives to grow and thrive) https://cdi.coop/
Cooperative Fund of the Northeast (CFNE) (Supports cooperatives with loans and resources) https://www.cooperativefund.org/
Cooperative Maine Business Alliance (CMBA) https://www.facebook.com/cooperativemaine/
Democracy at Work Institute: http://institute.usworker.coop/
International Cooperative Alliance: http://ica.coop/
Cooperation Works! https://cooperationworks.coop (Coop network)
Democracy Collaborative https://democracycollaborative.org/
National Center for Employee Ownership https://www.nceo.org
Cultivate.Coop: http://cultivate.coop/wiki/Steps_to_starting_a_cooperative
CA Center for Cooperative Dev: http://www.cccd.coop
National Cooperative Grocer’s Assn: https://www.ncg.coop
A note on our location: Tootie’s Tempeh is located on the unceded land of the Wabanaki people. We acknowledge the Wabanaki community, their elders both past and present, as well as future generations. We also acknowledge that we exist in a culture founded upon exclusions and erasures of many Indigenous peoples. These acknowledgements demonstrate our commitment to working towards dismantling the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism. We hope that establishing Tootie’s Tempeh as a worker-owned cooperative is a positive step in this effort.