Evert Vermandel

Lead Innovation Chef, Unilever Food Solutions; Wageningen, The Netherlands

Evert Vermandel is the global lead innovation chef for Unilever Food Solutions, based in the Netherlands. Prior to his over twenty year career at Unilever, Evert worked across the food service industry, holding head chef roles in several restaurants and hotels. Growing up near the North Sea, Evert still takes his inspiration from the water and enjoys perusing the local fish markets for fresh seafood to use in his dishes. When it comes to innovation, Evert’s goal is to make seaweed a culinary plant-based ingredient of the future. While there’s work to be done to sustainably source seaweed and implement culinary applications, he loves all it has to offer: fast-growing; sustainable; full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals; and a great source of umami. In his free time, Evert enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, outdoor cooking, cycling, and exploring nature. (Wageningen, The Netherlands) @UFS_Chef_Eef