Award Honorees

Michael Berger, Founding Partner & VP Supply Chain of Elevation Burger, has led the rapid growth of Elevation Burger and its popular organic offerings to America’s fast-food lovers, first starting with organic grass-fed beef, and later expanding to include organic chicken and organic bacon.

Under Berger’s leadership in establishing the Elevation Burger restaurant group, the chain has grown its organic beef supply program into the largest such program for any restaurant group in the United States and one of the largest organic beef programs of any U.S. retailer or end user. The company historically has partnered with farmers and ranchers to sponsor certification of their herds to grow their supply, resulting in a purchasing program that includes over 120 different family farms, up from 30 farms approximately five years ago.

Berger was recently responsible for leading the development and implementation of Elevation Burger’s organic chicken supply program, and several years ago established the company’s organic bacon program, both of which are the largest of any U.S. restaurant group.

In addition to Berger’s role at Elevation Burger, he is an active voice in the organic and sustainable food industry having recently been named to The Organic Center’s Board of Trustees and Food Tank’s Board of Directors.