In a small city in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, a 51-year-old grandmother named Christine Lewington, self-dubbed the ‘Pea Queen,’ has successfully built a multi-million-pound food business centered around an unexpected star: the humble yellow pea. Lewington’s visionary approach involves a groundbreaking technology to transform the food industry—specifically, a unique protein powder.
Despite overseeing a company valued at £119 million ($150M USD), Lewington embraces a modest lifestyle with her family. She navigates the city in a friend’s car and resorts to using super glue to mend her shoes. Notably, she has declined substantial cash offers, including a tempting $50 million, to safeguard her proprietary brand secrets. For Lewington, monetary gain is not the driving force behind her endeavors.
Reflecting on her childhood, she shares, “Growing up, I had one pair of shoes each school year, and my mum made all my clothes. I didn’t own a shop-bought dress until I was 14 years old.” The CEO of PIP International attributes her resilient mindset to a modest upbringing, where financial limitations were overshadowed by self-reliance and a strong sense of community among friends and family.
“My parents instilled in me the value of extending help to others, encouraging me to look beyond myself. I grew up with the belief that life’s true pleasure lies in contributing to one’s community.”
Christine, the founder of her company in 2019, has always exhibited an entrepreneurial spirit, starting with her babysitting venture at the tender age of 12. Progressing through roles in events, she pursued a college education on a volleyball scholarship, delving into engineering. This led to a role as a contract engineering project manager in the food processing industry.
Post-graduation in 1993 and the commencement of her family, Christine worked for industry giants, including the creators of Pepsi and Doritos. Despite her successful career, the desire for something uniquely hers led to the inception of her pea protein business.
“Observing the rise of plant-based proteins, I decided to invest alongside three business contacts. Each of us contributed $165,000 to acquire a confidential technology from a lab in France. By January 2021, I was prepared to invest over $5 million to purchase a former craft beer brewery, transforming it into a substantial demonstration-scale pea-processing factory to validate the new technology.”
“Fast-forward two years, and peas have become the focal point of my life. I dream about peas, possessing an in-depth knowledge of every aspect. People affectionately refer to me as the Pea Queen.”
“To this day, only a select few, comprising myself and my three business partners, hold the secret to our prized pea protein recipe.”
“Choosing the yellow pea for our venture made sense as it’s locally grown and cost-effective, owing to its bitter taste and historical use in animal feed,” Christine explains alongside her colleagues.
With an eye on local impact, Christine envisions creating 45 jobs at her factory by January 2024. The business has evolved into a family endeavor, with Christine’s 23-year-old daughter, Shelby, contributing to the marketing department and her 29-year-old son, Justin, employed at an associated solar farm nearby.
Despite the demanding schedule, Christine, a grandmother to six-year-old Adria Rose and anticipating another grandchild on December 16, 2023, emphasizes the normalcy of their family life.
“Even with ambitious business goals, we are a normal family that enjoys games nights and leisurely weekends together,” she notes. Acknowledging her relentless work ethic, Christine admits to rarely taking a day off, often working long hours, but asserts the family’s cohesion and shared moments.
Discussing the uniqueness of their pea protein, Christine elaborates, “Our protein enhances the nutritional value, taste, and texture of dairy alternatives like milk, yoghurts, and ice creams, eliminating the need for flavor masking ingredients such as sweeteners.”
Setting her sights on growth, Christine acknowledges the overwhelming demand for their product, leading to seven instances of being sold out. She expresses the need for more investment to facilitate expansion and actively seeks an anchor partner who shares the mission to bring about positive change.
Christine is proud of her protein’s contribution not only to culinary experiences but also to broader advancements. She reveals, “Our secret protein extraction method from yellow peas has unveiled new technologies that will contribute to global water sanitation efforts.”
Beyond business success, Christine aspires to transition her focus to philanthropy projects. She aims to utilize her financial success to provide clean water facilities to third-world towns and villages in need, aligning with her vision to make a meaningful impact on a global scale.
“In my role as a grandma, my current business ‘why’ revolves around leaving a positive impact on the world. My motivation is rooted in the desire to contribute to making the world a better place, even if in a modest capacity – something that drives me far more than monetary pursuits ever could,” Christine reflects.
Rather than setting her sights solely on accumulating wealth, Christine’s aspiration is to be a disruptor in the food industry. She aims to set an example for others on how to invest intelligently in clean technology, emphasizing a commitment to sustainable and impactful business practices. Christine’s vision extends beyond personal success, driven by a genuine passion for making meaningful contributions to the world through her entrepreneurial endeavors.
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