'Scaling Up' Needs The Right People - Arjen van der Wijk (Cebus Nexum)

'Scaling Up' Needs The Right People - Arjen van der Wijk (Cebus Nexum)

From Future of Foods Interviews - Alt Proteins, Cell Agriculture, an End to Factory Farming. by Alex Crisp

March 3, 2026 · 51 min · Season 1 · Episode 78

About this episode

Arjen van der Wijk discusses the challenges of scaling food production and the importance of finding the right partners in the industry.

Arjen van der Wijk is the CEO of Cibus Nexum, a company that operates in one of the most challenging parts of the food industry: scaling. It’s the phase after the excitement of product development, when a brand has traction and ambition — but now needs to produce consistently, at volume, without losing quality or control. Through Cibus Nexum, Arjen works with both fast-growing food startups and established global players, helping them navigate outsourcing, co-manufacturing, and supply chain decisions. His focus isn’t on hype or trends. It’s on execution. Finding the right production partner. Structuring agreements properly. Anticipating the risks that can derail growth. At its core, Cibus Nexum is about bringing the right people together - aligning brands, manufacturers, and technical experts so that innovation can survive real-world manufacturing. Because in food, a great idea is only the beginning. The real test is whether it can be made reliably, profitably, and at scale.

People in this episode

Host: Alex Crisp

Guest: Arjen van der Wijk

Topics covered

  • scaling food production
  • supply chain management
  • food startups
  • manufacturing partnerships
  • quality control

Keywords

  • scaling
  • food industry
  • Cibus Nexum
  • manufacturing
  • supply chain
  • food startups
  • quality control

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Cibus Nexum

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