'Scaling Up' Needs The Right People - Arjen van der Wijk (Cebus Nexum)

Arjen van der Wijk is the CEO of Cibus Nexum, a company that operates in one of the most challenging parts of the food industry: scaling. It’s the phase after the excitement of product development, when a brand has traction and ambition — but now needs to produce consistently, at volume, without losing quality or control.Through Cibus Nexum, Arjen works with both fast-growing food startups and established global players, helping them navigate outsourcing, co-manufacturing, and supply chain decisions. His focus isn’t on hype or trends. It’s on execution. Finding the right production partner. Structuring agreements properly. Anticipating the risks that can derail growth.At its core, Cibus Nexum is about bringing the right people together - aligning brands, manufacturers, and technical experts so that innovation can survive real-world manufacturing. Because in food, a great idea is only the beginning. The real test is whether it can be made reliably, profitably, and at scale.