Kevin Sherman’s foray into the realm of business and entrepreneurship took an unconventional path that was shaped by a series of impactful experiences centered around people. Prior to his involvement with Tractor Beverage Company, Sherman served as a program director, teacher, and principal in diverse communities, spanning the Apache Nation in New Mexico, South Central Los Angeles, and remote areas of Uganda and Tanzania.
These experiences exposed him to glaring socio-economic disparities, especially concerning food security and access to nutritious, chemical-free foods. Motivated by the steadfast belief that every individual should have the opportunity to access fresh, affordable organic produce, Sherman made a conscious decision to shift his focus to the food and beverage industry in pursuit of positive change.
When Sherman joined the team at Tractor Beverage Company, it was a small organization founded by farmers with a dream to contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet through the creation of the first organic beverage. He now serves as the CEO and the company is one of North America’s fastest-growing beverage brands, proudly holding the distinction of being the first and only certified organic, non-GMO beverage company to penetrate food service from quick-serve and full-serve restaurants to college and corporate campuses and hospital cafeterias.
“At the core of my passion lies the commitment to ensuring universal access to organic and healthier alternatives, irrespective of one’s workplace or residence,” said Sherman. “Consumers deserve a choice in what they consume, and I envision a future where the food and beverage industry embraces greater transparency regarding the contents of our drinks.”
Under Sherman’s leadership, Tractor Beverage Company has grown quickly and was named to the Inc. 5000 list of the nation’s fastest-growing companies for the past two years with recognition as a BevNET 2023 Rising Star award. In addition, the company expanded its organic beverages to over 6,000 locations.
What Sherman takes the most pride in is the introduction of Tractor’s Organic Impact Tracker. “This groundbreaking tool tracks and discloses impact data about its ingredients and sets a new standard for sustainability, emphasizing to consumers that prioritizing people and the planet over profit is not only commendable but achievable,” said Sherman.
As a leader, Sherman said he relies on inclusiveness. “In the journey of building a successful business, assembling the right team from the start is paramount and it’s easy to fall into the trap of surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals, creating an echo chamber where diverse perspectives struggle to be heard,” he said. “True growth and innovation stem from embracing a variety of skills and viewpoints, and by cultivating inclusiveness, we open ourselves up to different streams of thought.”
