Uncle Matt's Organic Founder and CEO, Matt McLean is a pioneer, agriculture activist and entrepreneur in the organic farming and food movements. A seventh generation Floridian, Matt’s citrus roots date back four generations to his great grandfather who farmed without the use of harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Matt founded Uncle Matt’s Organic in 1999 with three acres in his Dad’s backyard. Uncle Matt’s is now the largest organic orange juice brand and the number one selling OJ and grapefruit juice in the U.S. with a full line of organic and functional beverages sold nationwide in over 20,000+ stores.
Fresh out of college in 1993, I started my own company exporting citrus juice from Florida to Europe and the Middle East. I learned valuable lessons about what makes the best flavor profile for a tasty juice. I met one German bottler in 1996 who asked for “organic”, and as they say, the rest is history.
I founded Uncle Matt's Organic in June 1999. We started with one item sold locally in my backyard. Today, it’s the oldest organic OJ brand in the US and sold in over 15,000 stores nationwide. Our OJ and grapefruit juice are the number one selling organic juices in the US. We pride ourselves on being consistently great with every bottle.
I sold the company in June 2017 to Dean Foods, America’s largest dairy, publicly traded on Nasdaq. As fate would have it, we bought it back in April 2020, after Dean filed bankruptcy. An unbelievable life event!
Our mission is my passion: to produce the highest quality products using sustainable organic methods while educating consumers and farmers about the benefits of an organic lifestyle.
Thanks to our many customers who’ve made it all possible! I’m beyond blessed and thankful. The journey continues...
Specialties: Husband, Dad, Uncle, Sales and marketing, distribution, organic growing, government policy, supply chain management.
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Matt McLean is the Founder Uncle Matt's Organic, America's original family-owned organic orange juice company. They produce organic juices and probiotic popsicles and all of their products are certified glyphosate residue free by The Detox Project. This conversation covers: 00:05:13 - The Challenges of Organic Farming 00:07:50 - The Origins of Uncle Matts Orange Juice 00:15:46 - The Benefits of Organic Farming 00:18:32 - Overcoming Business Plateaus 00:29:16 - Boosting The Immune System with Probiotics, Turmeric, and Ginger 00:32:09 - Staying True to Your Mission Statement 00:34:46 - Transitioning to Regenerative Agriculture 00:37:34 - The Importance of An Organic Certification 00:40:10 - The Benefits of Citrus Fiber
To stay relevant as a CPG brand, you need to be willing to evolve, and it’s no different in the organic industry. Today, we sit down with Matt McLean, Founder and Chief Uncle of Uncle Matt's Organic, to uncover the journey behind the nation's number-one organic juice brand. Uncle Matt’s Organic has grown from a small family operation to a leader in the organic industry, offering a range of delicious and healthy beverages. In our conversation, Matt shares the origins of his company, the biggest challenges they’ve faced, and the innovations that have propelled its growth over 25 years. We explore how Uncle Matt's has navigated shifts in consumer preferences, why Matt decided to buy back the brand after successfully exiting, and their exciting decision to expand beyond juice. Discover the broader trends in the organic market, Matt's insights on differentiating your brand in a competitive industry, and the inspiring story of how passion, perseverance, and dedication to quality can transform your vision into reality!