Meet Morgan Zanotti: The Visionary Behind Primal Kitchen's Natural Food Movement

Welcome to Second Life, a podcast spotlighting successful women who've made major career changes—and fearlessly mastered the pivot. Hosted by Hillary Kerr, co-founder and chief content officer at Who What Wear, each episode gives you a direct line to women who are game changers in their fields. Subscribe to Second Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts to stay tuned.

In 2015, Morgan Zanotti, alongside her co-founder Mark Sisson, embarked on a journey to revolutionize grocery store aisles with a range of high-quality, delicious condiments, sauces, and dressings—all crafted without dairy, added sugar, or canola oil. Their brainchild, Primal Kitchen, started with a single product, avocado oil mayonnaise, and has since blossomed into a brand offering over 70 SKUs, gracing the shelves of more than 16,000 retail locations. 

With an idea grounded in the belief that food should be both nutritious and delicious, Zanotti created Primal Kitchen to offer consumers a wide range of products that aligned with their dietary and ethical preferences. The brand's commitment to quality, transparency, and real-food ingredients resonated with health-conscious consumers nationwide, eventually leading to the major acquisition by Kraft Heinz for $200 million. Before Zanotti was at the helm of changing the food industry as we know it, her career path was certainly not linear.

Zanotti's career journey began with a degree in accounting. She subsequently spent around nine months as an accountant, soon realizing that her heart lay elsewhere. Determined to find a more fulfilling career path, she worked as a waitress at a resort in Wisconsin, surfed her way through South America, and even obtained her yoga certification. Despite these soul-enriching experiences, she returned to the United States without a clear corporate career in sight. Undeterred by uncertainty, Zanotti explored various opportunities until she found her way to a branding and design agency. There, she honed her skills and developed a keen understanding of marketing and brand development. During this period, her life took a pivotal turn when she accepted the role of marketing director at KeVita, a beverage company specializing in probiotic drinks.

At KeVita, Zanotti's path intersected with Sisson, a renowned figure in the health and wellness industry. Their shared vision for creating wholesome, clean-label food products sparked a conversation that would alter the trajectory of both their careers. Listen to the latest episode of Second Life to hear how Zanotti continues to inspire with her dedication to creating a healthier, more flavorful world, one condiment at a time.

Ahead, discover some of Primal Kitchen's best-selling products.