MARK RETZLOFF

CEO
Natural Habitats USA

Mr. Retzloff is a pioneer in the natural organic and sustainable food and agriculture industry with a 49-year career starting and managing a number of successful companies. He is co-founder and former chairman and CEO of Alfalfa’s Markets, Boulder based natural foods stores. He also co-founded Aurora Organic Dairy in 2003, and currently acts as a senior advisor to the company. He was the University of Michigan’s School for the Environment and Sustainability, (SEAS), Practitioner in Residence for 2014/2015 and  2015/2016, and He recently joined Colorado State University School of Agriculture Deans Advisory Board. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Natural Habitats Group, a Rotterdam, NL and Boulder-based, fully integrated leader in worldwide organic  sustainable palm oil production, processing, and distribution. Mark currently mentors, counsels, consults and advises numerous leaders and companies in the Natural, Organic, Local and Sustainable food and agriculture sector.

Mr. Retzloff started his career in natural foods retail, as co-founder of Eden Foods, Rainbow Grocery, in Denver, and the original Alfalfa’s Market’s, which merged with Wild Oats Markets in 1996. In 1990, Mr. Retzloff was chairman of the Organic Food Alliance which was instrumental in passing the federal 1990 Organic Food Production Act in Washington D.C. Mr. Retzloff went on to become the co-founder of Broomfield, CO.-based, Horizon Organic Dairy. There he served as Chairman, CEO and President International. He then became Chairman of Rudi’s Organic Bakery, a leading Colorado-based national organic brand, where he helped execute a successful turn-around.

Mr. Retzloff received his B.S. degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan and has received several awards, including the Organic Trade Association’s Lifetime Leadership award, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Entrepreneur of the Year award, and Naturally Boulder’s Lifetime Achievement Award.