Michael Mendes

Michael Mendes is the Chief Executive Officer of Farm Supply Company, a leading California-based home, garden, and farm supply retailer.

Previously, Michael Mendes was CEO and Managing Partner of Just Desserts, where he led the company through a period of significant growth. He introduced organic, vegan, and gluten-free product lines, expanded national distribution, built a state-of-the-art automated commercial bakery, and elevated the brand platform—efforts that more than doubled the company’s sales. Mendes successfully sold the business to Trive Capital in 2023.

Earlier in his career, Michael Mendesserved as Chairman, CEO, and President of Diamond Foods, where he took the company public in 2005. Under his leadership, Diamond grew from less than $200 million to more than $1 billion in sales through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, including Pop Secret and Kettle Foods in the U.S. and U.K.

In recognition of his leadership, Mendes was named the Bay Area’s Most Admired CEO for Public Companies over $500 million in 2010.

Outside of business, Mendes is an accomplished marathon runner. He has completed all Seven World Major Marathons and is a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Seven Star Hall of Fame. In 2024, he qualified for the World Age Group Championship in Sydney, Australia.

Mendes is married to Dr Wendy Berry Mendes, the Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology at Yale University