Anthony Zolezzi
Born	Anthony Joaquin Zolezzi
Birthplace	San Diego, CA
Website	anthonyzolezzi.com
Education	Loyola Marymount
Known For	Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Spouse	Kathleen Zolezzi
Children	2

Anthony Zolezzi is an entrepreneur,^[1] CEO,^[2] author^[3] and public speaker.^[4]

Early Life [ edit]

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Zolezzi was born in San Diego, CA and grew up working in his family’s fishing business.

Business Ventures [edit]

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In 1995, Zolezzi licensed the rights to the name “Bubba Gump Shrimp Company” from Paramount Pictures in an attempt to turn around a financially troubled seafood company, Meridian Products.^[5][6][7][8]

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company line of packaged shrimp products was sold in supermarkets across the US and in international markets.^[9][10] Zolezzi was approached by a friend in the seafood restaurant business about licensing the name. Zolezzi consulted with Paramount and the Rusty Pelican restaurant chain to launch the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in Monterey, California in April of 1996.^[11][5]

In November 2010, Landry’s, Inc. acquired Bubba Gump Shrimp Company for an undisclosed amount.^[12]

Zolezzi founded GreenOps LLC, an emissions reduction currency system.^[13] GreenOps LLC later partnered with Waste Management,^[14][15] creating Greenopolis Recycling Rewards.^[16][17] Greenopolis gave rewards points to users from 2008-2012 through social media websites, Facebook Games^[18][19] and bottle and can recyclingvia PepsiCo Dream Machines.^[20][21] The Dream Machines were placed on college campuses,^[22] grocery stores and military bases^[23] across the US and collected more than 4 million plastic bottles in their first year of use.^[24] Oceanopolis, a Facebook game created by Greenopolis to make the recycling habit fun and engaging,^[25] was recognized by Al Gore at the 2011 Games for Change Festival at New York University, saying “I’ve been encouraged by recent developments like Trash Tycoon and Oceanopolis, and both have spurred my thinking in this area.” Eventually, Recyclebank and Greenopolis merged,^[26] following an investment in Recyclebank by Waste Management.^[27] In 2019, RecycleBank was purchased by Recycle Track Systems (RTS).^[28]

In 2013, Zolezzi purchased the assets of S&H Greenstamps with plans to relaunch it.^[29]

Earlier in his career, Zolezzi co-founded Pet Promise Natural Pet Food, which he sold to Nestle/Purina.^[30][31]

Author [edit]

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Zolezzi is the author of numerous books including How Dog Food Saved the World^[32] and Chemical-Free Kids: How to Safeguard Your Child’s Diet and Environment.^[33]

Other Information [edit]

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He served as an advisor to the Culinary Institute and Harvard School of Public Health in the Menus of Change Initiative.^[34]

Zolezzi also mentored students at UCSD through their Ignite Innovation initiatives.^[35]