My name is Melissa James, a big time foodie and the creative behind Eastend Vegan. I've always had a commitment to changing the world and supporting others but this often turned out to be in the form of community service and working for the non profit sector.

One day I decided to leave my job because I felt I could do more and I began to host sharing circles and support others one on one through wellness coaching all while driving for UBER. At the same time I knew I wanted to make food that nurtured my body so I began making my favorite foods: lasagna and Mac and Cheese for family functions so I wouldn't feel left out. This eventually lead me to the realization that I could turn this into a business since the vegan options were so scarce on my end of the city. But it wasn't until my dad asked me for some packaged of cheese to give to his clients that I discovered I actually enjoyed the artisanal process more than cooking. That's when Eastend Vegan Almond Cheese was truly born.

Deciding to start my own company seemed quite scary and appeared as if it would go against my sometimes socialist morals, but I've now learned that the only real way to make the world a better place is to make myself a better person. Following my heart is the best I can do for others at this stage and creating a product from a peaceful mind is equally important. I'm a happy creator of Vegan cheese and I've been able to impact the lives of so many others by finding a solution to one seemingly ridiculous but very important problem: finding a dairy free cheese that actually taste good.