ORANGE SLICES
Jill Tikkun and her family in front of the Eno.
At just 15 years old, George Tikkun (rhymes with “racoon”) is already making waves in the plant-based food industry. From the Piedmont Food and Processing Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina, George and his mother Jill are revolutionizing vegan bacon through their company, Geo D Foods.
Born and raised vegan, George’s culinary journey began as simple experiments in his family’s kitchen. But his bacon alternatives soon caught attention at a local festival. “We were there to promote my mom’s ‘Vegan Kids Book,’” George recalls, “but suddenly people were just as interested in the bacon.”
The unexpected demand led the mother-son duo to seek professional help — facilities, that is, where they could perfect their vision. They found support at the Piedmont Food and Processing Center, where directors Sue Ellsworth and Eric Hallman welcomed them in. Located in Hillsborough, PFAP was started as a joint project of Alamance, Chatham, Durham, and Orange Counties as a base for launching and growing food businesses in the Piedmont. With 10,000 square feet, PFAP has four kitchen spaces, dry, refrigerated and frozen storage, and office space available for rent. An incubator of this size with the experience of Ellsworth and Hallman behind it providing guidance is exactly what a small but ambitious to grow company needs.
An Orange County Small Business grant helped transform a home-kitchen creation into a market-ready product.
Geo D Food’s vegan bacon.
For Jill Tikkun, the path to veganism began in the aftermath of 9/11. “Something in my heart was awakened to suffering and living creatures on our planet, and I changed my life, including the way I eat,” she explains. And she has raised her children on a vegan diet since birth.
With support from Orange County’s business community the family’s venture has flourished. SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives) mentors Shayne Nowicki and Michael O’Neil provided valuable marketing and distribution expertise. “Orange County has a dedicated group of professionals who love to help entrepreneurs succeed,” Jill notes, praising the county’s economic development small business grant and SCORE’s volunteer network.
Geo D Foods’ vegan bacon is now available online and at state festivals, with one mountain retailer already stocking their product. The company aims to expand into Orange County stores soon. The pre-cooked, shelf-stable bacon offers convenience without compromising on taste or texture, making it an attractive option for vegans and health-conscious consumers alike.
Geo D Food’s vegan bacon.
Jill says that in 2024 they made a profit and plans this year include marketing to Kosher and Hallal families, who may be missing bacon.
The business has become a family affair, with George’s sister designing the brand’s eye-catching packaging. While George perfects the recipe, she ensures the product looks as appetizing as it tastes.
Jill reflects on their vegan lifestyle’s practicality: “Today’s world is filled with vegan options. We spend about $500 monthly on groceries, focusing on beans, legumes, and lentils, which helps balance the cost of specialty vegan products.”
“We love working with George and Jill and helping them with packaging and marketing and kitchen facilities,” says Sue Ellsworth of PFAP. “We have most of what people like George and Jill need to launch a successful food business and we are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Eric Hallman.
Eric Hallman, executive director of PFAP, agrees.
“Over the years we have had the good fortune to work with many amazing companies,” he says. “We host the most respected caterers, your favorite food trucks and a host of innovative product manufacturers. We welcome all sizes and shapes of entrepreneurs, from those aiming for a national brand, to those growing a great local success story, to those with a weekend hobby. I am very proud of what we have helped to build in Orange County.”
With its commitment to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, Geo D Foods represents a new generation of conscious entrepreneurship — one that proves you’re never too young to make a difference in the food industry, or too old to give faux bacon another try.
Geo D Foods’ Vegan Bacon Pricing:
- Peppy Pepper Bacon: Small: $6.00, Regular: $12.00
- Sweet Southern Bacon: Small: $6.00, Regular: $12.00
- Smokey Savory Bacon: Small: $6.00, Regular: $12.00
Order direct: https://www.geodfoods.com. For questions, email Jill Tikkun: [email protected]
Geo D Food’s vegan bacon.
Laurie Paolicelli is executive director for the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau, a position she has held since 2005. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Communications from the University Wisconsin-Superior and graduate certification in Technology In Marketing from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media.
These Orange Slices stories have been published by the Chapel Hill/ Orange County’s Tourism Department through its Communications Division and includes interviews with the subjects and repurposed material from website content and press releases provided by local partners. For more information, visit www.visitchapelhill.org or contact Laurie [email protected]
