Greyston Bakery
Social enterprise | |
Industry | Baked goods |
Founded | Yonkers, NY, U.S. (1982) |
Founder | Tetsugen Bernard Glassman |
Headquarters | Yonkers, NY |
Key people | Michael P. Brady, CEO & President |
Products | Ice cream mix-ins, brownies, cakes |
Number of employees | 65 (2006) |
Parent | Greyston Foundation |
Website | GreystonBakery.com |
Greyston Bakery was founded in Riverdale, New York, by Bernie Glassman, a Zen Buddhist. Although it is a for-profit company, its profits go to its non-profit parent organization, the Greyston Foundation, where they are used on behalf of the local community.[1]
History
The bakery was founded in 1982. Later that decade, Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's ice cream company agreed to purchase Greyston Bakery brownies for chocolate fudge brownie ice cream.[2][3] In 2004, Greyston Bakery moved to a larger facility designed by Maya Lin to accommodate growth.[3] In 2012, Greyston Bakery became New York State's first registered Benefit Corporation.
Social mission
The company aims to hire the hard-to-employ and is known for its "open hiring" practices, where anyone can sign up regardless of background.[2][4] All profit from the company go to the Greyston Foundation, which uses it for low-income housing, day care open to the community, a medical center for those with AIDS, and other community endeavors.[2]
Products
Greyston Bakery is the primary supplier of brownies for Ben & Jerry's,[5] which is its main client.[6] The bakery also has its own line of baked goods that it sells online and a co-branded line of products with Whole Planet Foundation sold exclusively at Whole Foods Market.
References
- ↑ Connolly, Peggy (2006). "Greyston Bakery: Recipe for success". The Corporate Citizen.
- 1 2 3 Stewart, Barbara (February 23, 2003). "In the Hood: Jobs for the Poor". NY Times.
- 1 2 "Greyston Bakery: Let 'Em Eat Cake". CBS, 60 Minutes. January 11, 2004.
- ↑ Steadman Charkes, Juli (November 26, 2006). "Bakery's 'Open Hiring' Offers Anyone a Chance". NY Times. The New York Times.
- ↑ "Greyston Bakery". Ben & Jerry's. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ↑ Seiz, Keith (May 1, 2004). "Greyston Bakery builds for the future". Retrieved 2008-07-21.