Landec Corporation

In 1986, in Menlo Park, California, Landec Corporation was started by brothers Stephen M. and Richard S. A. O'Connor. It wasn't a food company at first, but a materials science firm focused on specialized polymer technology. The core idea was creating temperature-sensitive polymers that could change their properties based on the environment. This technology found its first major application not in tech, but in agriculture, with a patented polymer membrane called BreatheWay that could naturally extend the shelf life of fresh produce. A major turning point came in 1996 when Landec went public on the NASDAQ, raising capital to further commercialize its innovations. This set the stage for a strategic pivot. While the polymer technology was the foundation, the company saw a massive opportunity in applying it directly to consumer goods. This led to a series of acquisitions that moved it firmly into the health and wellness space. It acquired Apio, Inc., a packaged vegetable company, and later Yucatan Foods, a guacamole producer, transforming its food segment. In 2010, Landec diversified further by acquiring Lifecore Biomedical, a manufacturer of injectable-grade hyaluronic acid, entering the medical materials market. By the late 2010s, Landec operated two distinct businesses: a natural foods division, renamed Curation Foods, and the Lifecore biomedical segment. However, the company eventually made a strategic decision to go all-in on its highest-growth segment. Starting in 2021, Landec began divesting its food assets, including selling its packaged salad business to Taylor Farms. This culminated in August 2022, when the company announced its most significant transformation yet: it would sell its remaining food brands and rebrand entirely as Lifecore Biomedical, a focused contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).