Doich Foods Taps Wall Street Vet as COO for Major Retail Expansion

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – May 07, 2026 – Functional snacking brand Doich Foods has appointed David Kurd, a veteran of the investment management world, as its new Chief Operating Officer. The move signals a pivotal moment for the company as it leverages high-profile investment and seasoned leadership to accelerate a major expansion into mainstream retail, starting with key Midwest markets.

Kurd’s appointment is a strategic play to scale operations for a brand that has rapidly gained traction in the competitive 'better-for-you' food space. It comes on the heels of a significant investment from Gabe Plotkin, founder of Tallwoods Capital LLC and majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. This combination of new operational leadership and powerful financial backing positions Doich to transition from a promising startup into a national CPG powerhouse.

From High Finance to Functional Foods

The story behind Doich's new operational lead is as much about relationships and strategic pivots as it is about cookie dough. David Kurd brings nearly three decades of experience in operations and investing, much of it in high-stakes financial environments. He previously served as Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Melvin Capital Management, the hedge fund founded by Gabe Plotkin. Their long-standing professional relationship, forged in the demanding investment sector, is now being reapplied to the burgeoning consumer goods market.

At Melvin Capital, Kurd helped manage operations during a period of explosive growth, where the firm's assets peaked at over $13 billion. While the fund ultimately closed after the 2021 GameStop short squeeze, the experience managing complex logistics and rapid scaling is invaluable for a company like Doich, which is on its own steep growth trajectory. Kurd, an MIT-trained mechanical engineer, most recently served as President of Snowball Advisors LLC, further honing his expertise in management and advisory roles.

Plotkin's investment adds another layer of strategic depth. After founding the family office Tallwoods Capital, Plotkin has focused on both public equities and private investments, with a stated interest in the consumer sector. His portfolio includes board memberships at health-focused restaurant chains Just Salad and Bamboo Sushi, indicating a clear eye for consumer trends in wellness and specialized diets. His backing of Doich is not just a capital infusion but a vote of confidence from a seasoned investor with a track record of identifying growth opportunities in the consumer space.

Capitalizing on the 'Better-for-You' Boom

Doich Foods is strategically positioned at the confluence of several powerful consumer trends that are reshaping the global food industry. The brand's core product—an allergen-friendly, gluten-free, vegan, and low-sugar snacking dough—reads like a checklist for the modern health-conscious shopper.

The market for such products is expanding at a remarkable pace. The global functional food and beverage market is projected to soar past $793 billion by 2032. More specifically, the niches Doich occupies are seeing explosive growth. The allergen-free snacks market is expected to reach $8.2 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 8.9%, while the gluten-free snacks market is on track to hit $7.34 billion by 2032. This demand is driven not only by consumers with medical necessities but by a mainstream movement toward cleaner, more transparent, and healthier eating habits.

Doich's formula, which boasts three times more protein than leading conventional cookie doughs, also taps into the massive demand for high-protein snacks. This trend cuts across all demographics, as consumers seek out products that offer satiety, energy, and muscle support. By delivering on taste and texture while providing these functional benefits, Doich is effectively disrupting the traditional perception of cookie dough as a purely indulgent treat and repositioning it as a permissible, and even beneficial, snack.

Scaling for a National Footprint

With a powerful leadership team and a product perfectly aligned with market demand, Doich is now executing a critical part of its growth plan: aggressive retail expansion. The company is set to launch its products in Minnesota's upscale Lunds & Byerlys grocery chain and Chicagoland's dominant Jewel-Osco by the end of May. This move marks a significant push into the physical retail space, strengthening its presence in the Midwest and making its products accessible to a much broader audience beyond its direct-to-consumer channel.

This is precisely where David Kurd's role as COO becomes indispensable. His primary mandate is to lead day-to-day operations and build the infrastructure needed to support a growing nationwide distribution network. Scaling a CPG brand involves navigating complex supply chains, managing inventory across multiple partners, and ensuring product quality and consistency—all areas where Kurd's operational acumen will be critical.

Doich CEO and co-founder Anthony Scialdone highlighted the strategic fit. "We've taken a very hands-on and intentional approach to building Doich, and David immediately connected with that," Scialdone stated. "His leadership will be instrumental as we continue our momentum during this next phase of growth." This sentiment underscores the belief that Kurd’s experience can provide the structure and discipline needed to turn Doich's crave-worthy product into a household name across the country.