In this episode of FoodTech Junkies, we dive into visionary innovations shaping the future of food with Chiara Cecchini, VP of Commercialization at Savor — a company transforming the fats and oils category by eliminating agriculture from the equation. From animal- and plant-free butter to scalable climate solutions, Savor is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Chiara shares her journey from Italy’s connected food systems to the frontlines of food tech in the U.S., unpacking the tension between artisanal roots and industrial scale. We explore the complexity of integrating radical innovation into traditional infrastructures, the urgency of decarbonization, and the critical need for thoughtful, sustainable scaling.

From the role of chefs as cultural catalysts to the importance of strategic partnerships, Chiara offers sharp insights into where the industry is headed — and what it will take to build a regenerative, resilient, and truly innovative food future.

About Chiara Cecchini: Chiara leads Commercialization at Savor, overseeing go-to-market strategy, sales, marketing, and communications. She previously founded and led Future Food Americas, working with Fortune 500 companies to drive food innovation aligned with the UN SDGs. Chiara sits on the boards of the Future Food Institute and Food for Climate League and has taught sustainable business at San Francisco State University. A former researcher at UC Davis, she was named a Forbes “30 Under 30 Europe” in Social Entrepreneurship. Outside work, she enjoys family, beekeeping, and writing poetry.

About Savor: Savor is reinventing fats and oils by producing them without plants or animals—using carbon, hydrogen, and thermochemistry. Backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, their ingredients provide sustainable, customizable alternatives to butter, palm oil, and other products, aiming to decarbonize and modernize the global fat supply chain.

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:37 – Meet Chiara Cecchini

01:48 – From Italy to Innovation: Chiara’s Journey in Food Tech

04:40 – What’s Broken in the Food System? Challenges at Scale

09:04 – Savor’s Vision: Rethinking Fat Without Agriculture

21:52 – Chefs as Cultural Catalysts in Food Innovation

26:53 – Scaling Deep Tech: Commercialization and Partnerships

34:02 – Systems Thinking, Regeneration, and the Future of Food

47:26 – Lightning Round

54:29 – Final Thoughts and Farewell

In this episode of FoodTech Junkies, host Sharon Cittone talks with Zhong Xu, CEO and co-founder of Deliverect, about the role of AI in transforming restaurant operations. From reducing errors and downtime to boosting personalization and tackling fraud with tools like Resolve and Kiosk, Deliverect powers over 65,000 restaurants globally—including major names such as Burger King and KFC.

Zhong shares his journey in restaurant tech, the company’s latest innovations, and what’s next for the industry—from voice recognition to robotics. The episode wraps with insights for entrepreneurs and a rapid-fire lightning round.

About Zhong Xu: As the CEO and co-founder of Deliverect, Zhong is building a global ecosystem of on and off-premise solutions that empowers restaurants and retailers to sell anywhere and deliver everywhere. Deliverect's comprehensive platform integrates technologies spanning kiosks, delivery management, uptime monitoring, real-time analytics, and more. Zhong, who obtained a M.Sc. degree in software engineering in 2009, created the first IPad POS in EMEA in 2012, together with co-founder Jan Hollez. This SaaS company evolved into the company that today is called Lightspeed, which is available in more than 100 countries around the world. Zhong was Global Director of Lightspeed Hospitality until 2018, when he founded Deliverect, thereby continuing to revolutionize the hospitality industry.

About Deliverect:

Deliverect is a global ecosystem of on and off-premise solutions for digital sales. Its API-first software helps enterprises of all sizes to sell anywhere and deliver everywhere across 52+ global markets. Currently, Deliverect powers 50,000+ establishments, including renowned chains like Burger King, Little Caesars, and Pret A Manger. To find out more information, visit deliverect.com.

Timestamps:

00:32 – Meet Zhong Xu

03:47 – The Rise of Deliverect

06:05 – AI’s impact on restaurant ops

14:18 – Personalization & dynamic menus

19:47 – Product deep dive: Kiosk & Resolve

23:13 – Fighting fraud with vision AI

26:40 – Misconceptions about AI

30:03 – What’s next: voice tech & robotics

33:04 – Lightning round

39:17 – Advice for young entrepreneurs

This week on the FoodTech Junkies podcast, we’re joined by Nona Yehia — architect, changemaker, and CEO of Vertical Harvest. From Jackson Hole to Westbrook, Maine, Nona shares how her team is reimagining vertical farming not just as a way to grow food, but as a regenerative business model—one where inclusion, local impact, and profitability go hand in hand.

We dive into what makes their newest farm the company’s most ambitious yet, how public-private partnerships and tech collaborations are key to scaling, and why designing for community isn’t a side mission—it’s part of the bottom line. From workforce development to grassroots engagement, this episode explores how Vertical Harvest is turning food systems into engines for equity, resilience, and long-term value.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast

00:41 Meet Nona Yehia: Architect Turned Vertical Farming Pioneer

02:10 Nona’s Personal Journey and Inspiration

05:56 Challenges and Innovations in Vertical Farming

09:33 Scaling and Replicating Vertical Harvest

11:49 The Maine Project: A New Chapter

19:39 Technology and People: A Balanced Approach

25:01 Financial Challenges and Innovations

33:41 Community Impact and Future Vision

43:09 Lightning Round and Closing Thoughts

About Nona Yehia

Co-Founder & CEO, Vertical Harvest Farms

Nona Yehia is an architect-turned-entrepreneur who co-founded Vertical Harvest Farms, the first vertical hydroponic greenhouse in North America. Driven by a passion for design, food, and social equity—and inspired by her brother who has developmental disabilities—Nona helped pioneer a business model that pairs sustainable urban farming with inclusive employment.

Under her leadership, Vertical Harvest has become a national example of climate-resilient infrastructure and regenerative enterprise, now expanding with a new flagship farm in Westbrook, Maine. Recognized by CNN’s Champions for Change, Fast Company, and the Tony Hsieh Award, Nona continues to shape the conversation around community-led food systems and equitable innovation.

About Vertical Harvest

Vertical Harvest is an urban farming company turning cities into fertile grounds for growth, using tech-enabled agriculture to reinvent the future of food. They are hell-bent on bringing communities the freshest, healthiest and most flavorful produce – grown hydroponically, all year round. It's why they root their farms within cities, create customized employment for people with disabilities and are farm to fork around the clock. City by city and block by block, they are growing up – working with and within communities to sow the seeds of abundant possibility. They're not just harvesting the freshest food possible – as a social enterprise they're here to make good taste great.