Meet our founder, Harry Lewis
¡Hola Harry Lewis!
Meet our founder, Harry Lewis! Born in Guatemala, Harry was raised with the belief that food means love. For Harry, meals have always been a shared tradition, meant to be passed down and enjoyed with loved ones for years to come. Now, Harry and his team want to share the magic of affordable, convenient, and delicious plant-based Latin cuisine with the world. With Casa Verde, Harry aims to nourish the Americas (and beyond!) with delicious and wholesome Latin foods prepared with love.
“I believe that brands have the power to change the world, change behaviors and help solve big problems. With Casa Verde, we believe that eating delicious, healthy and nutritious food shouldn’t come with a premium, be complicated or restricted to those who can afford it,” Harry said. “I’m so proud to share my roots, my values and a little bit of the flavor of where I come from, while giving back to the country that has opened its doors to me – and at the same time helping communities grow through affordable wellness and nurturing hearts.”
From Big Business To Nourishing Communities
Harry Lewis is the Chief Disruptive Growth Officer at Grupo APEX, a leading manufacturing and distribution company in the Food and Beverage business in Latin America. He is also the founder of Ilinel Food Company, a minority-owned culinary startup whose name is derived from the Mayan word Ilinel meaning, “The Plants That Nurture Us.” Ilinel Food company is backed by Bia Foods, one of the fastest growing culinary and coffee companies in Latin America.
With a strong business background and 15 years working on strategy, digital marketing, media, and creative, Harry Lewis leads the Casa Verde team with vision and passion. After receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Business and Economy from Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala and a Masters Degree in Marketing from UCLA, Harry joined the Anheuser-Busch In-Bev in 2002. Over his 18-year career at Anheuser-Busch, Harry held several positions in different countries, leading communication and marketing efforts to develop, launch, and build new brands in the growing Premium beer segment of the U.S. market. Before launching Casa Verde, Harry was the Vice President of New Premium and Super Premium brands for Anheuser-Busch/In-Bev.
After years of work in the corporate world, Harry decided to take some time to reflect and re-evaluate his life priorities. Getting reacquainted with his rich cultural heritage and rediscovering his Latin American roots inspired Harry to continue his journey of self-discovery and wellness through Latin America. It was on these travels that Harry rediscovered his passion for traditional Latin American cuisine. In 2021, Harry launched Casa Verde, paying homage to his ancestors by creating a line of innovative ready-to-eat meals that are completely plant-based, but still reflective of traditional foods eaten by our ancestors in the Americas.
The Casa Verde Familia
To bring Casa Verde to life, Harry assembled a powerhouse team of talented individuals with a combined 100 years of experience in the Food and Beverage industry. Traditionally, cooking in Latin America is a way for the whole family to get involved, make dishes together as a team, and enjoy each other's company. To keep with this tradition, Casa Verde constructed their very own ‘dream team’, including Ecuadorian American chef, restaurateur, and Iron Chef Jose Garces, who helped create the first line of four chef-made recipes: Red Bean Pozole, Coconut Chowder, Lentil Mole, and Garbanzos Al Pastor. With Casa Verde, Harry and the entire Casa Verde Familia aim to share their love of delicious and wholesome plant-based Latin foods with communities across the Americas.
¡Buen provecho!