B Lab Certifies Saffron Road Foods as B Corp Company
B Lab has certified Saffron Road Foods as a B Corp company. Founder and CEO Adnan Durrani announced the news on his LinkedIn page.“We have an exciting news blast to break in the new year: WE’RE OFFICIALLY B CORP™ CERTIFIED by B Lab!” he wrote. “Having devoted my career for 30 years to socially conscious, mission-based enterprises, Saffron Road Foods being awarded this publicly recognized seal and certification was quite uplifting for me personally and our entire team professionally.
“Indeed, after over a year of grueling third-party audits of our employment & company practices, our Better For You and clean label foods, our mission of ethical consumerism & sustainable agricultural practices, and our good works & community service, our AWESOME team delivered on our promise of a Journey To Better,” Durrani wrote.
“At Saffron Road, our genetic code has always been mission-driven, on a compassionate and inclusive Journey to Better: better for livestock, better for farmers, better for your health, better for our communities, and better for humanity. B Corps are for-profit companies codified as ‘Public Benefit Corporations,’ so this becomes embedded in our corporate DNA as businesses globally that are committed to the triple bottom line. Saffron Road’s purpose is beyond just one-dimensional profits, meeting the highest levels of standards for social & environmental performance, accountability in terms of profit & purpose, as well as transparency regarding all things such as sourcing, ingredients, and labor.
“It means so much to us at Saffron Road because it recognizes our long-time commitment as a Socially Responsible brand. We now join the ranks of peer B Corp mission-driven brands like Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Patagonia, EILEEN FISHER, INC., TOMS, Clif Bar & Company, Stonyfield, Danone North America, Ben & Jerry’s, Once Upon a Farm, Seventh Generation, Thrive Market, as well as media giant Bloomberg. The B Corp community works toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, lower environmental impact, sustainable agriculture, stronger communities, and the creation of more high-quality jobs with dignity and purpose.”
Saffron Road is a leading brand in the natural and organic food industry, offering a wide range of products from frozen entrées and shelf-stable meals to simmer sauces and plant-based protein snacks. All Saffron Road Products are Halal-certified by IFANCA and are available in more than 25,000 retail locations in the United States.
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James Beard Foundation Holds Chef Action Summit
Over three days from Jan. 29-31, some of the nation’s best chefs, advocates, and leaders—many of whom are alumni of the James Beard Foundation Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change—will come together in Houston for the Foundation’s preeminent Chef Action Summit. In support of the people behind America’s food culture, as well as a thriving, more equitable and sustainable food system—this is only the second time the James Beard Foundation has held a summit of this magnitude.
The James Beard Foundation, in partnership with Houston First Corporation, will host the pivotal event—resulting in a set of chef-driven policy recommendations for the 2023 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of food and agriculture policy that Congress passes about every five years. The bill has considerable ramifications for national food security and access, the environment, and support for farmers and rural America. Following the event, the recommendations will be shared with policymakers responsible for drafting the 2023 Farm Bill.
Summit participants will also influence the development of blueprints for local and state-based action, as it relates to America’s food and agriculture system. During the event, participants will have the opportunity to hear and engage with influential leaders from the policy, culinary, nonprofit, and corporate industries to address key issues such as:
● Nutrition Security and Hunger
● Conservation and Sustainability
● Improving Equity in the Industry
Featured speakers—with more to be announced soon—include:
● Anne Biklé, Biologist, science writer, and co-author, Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations; The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial Roots of Life and Health; and Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life
● Joel Berg, CEO, Hunger Free America
● Stacy Dean, deputy under secretary for USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services
● Lisa Helfman, CEO, senior director, public affairs, H-E-B, and Founder and board chair, Brighter Bites
● Adrian Lipscombe, founder, 40 Acres Project
● Michel Nischan, co-founder and chairman, Wholesome Wave and founder and president, Wholesome Crave
● Karen Washington, farmer, activist, and co-owner, Rise&Root Farm
“Across our food system—from nutrition to hunger, conservation and agriculture, worker or supply chain issues—the stakes have never been higher. The James Beard Foundation is honored to bring together chef advocates, policy and industry leaders, and key stakeholders for critical dialogue and commitment pertaining to some of this country’s most pressing food issues,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of The James Beard Foundation.
“Chefs—with their unique ability to influence the way we think about and consume food, and as pragmatic problem solvers—have proven time and again that they are the critical champions we need for our communities and broader food system. The Foundation, through initiatives like the Chef Action Summit, is committed to ensuring they have the tools and training needed to drive change. We thank Houston First for being an incredible host and partner and look forward to presenting our policy recommendations in support of a more sustainable, equitable and thriving food system in early spring.”
The second JBF Chef Action Summit will take place at three distinct Houston institutions: The University of Houston Hilton Hotel and Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality, POST Houston, as well as The Power Center Houston.
The Summit, taking place just off the heels of the 10 year anniversary of the Foundation’s groundbreaking Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change, features refreshers on the program, as well as new training, including: updated tools for working with local representatives, as well as municipal and state lawmakers; advocacy training for social media strategies to move the needle in obstinate cities and states; tactics on
fostering peer-to-peer support and networking; and deep-dive discussions around key sustainability issues.
“What is taking place in Houston this January will impact everyone,” said Houston First Corporation President and CEO Michael Heckman. “Not only will the 2023 Chef Action Summit drive important policy discussions that will influence 2023 legislation, the contents of those conversations will directly affect how our food supply remains safe, abundant and accessible to all. We applaud the James Beard Foundation for their continued commitment to addressing these difficult issues and look forward to hosting this influential group in Houston.
The Chef Action Summit is by pre-registration only. Programming will begin on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. at the University of Houston Hilton hotel. Later that evening, a special welcome reception for participants and speakers, hosted by Houston First Corporation, will happen on the rooftop of POST Houston, kicking-off the three-day series of events. Keynote panels, programming, and policy discussion will follow from Jan. 30-31, with Chef Christopher Williams—a 2022 James Beard nominee for “Outstanding Restaurateur”—closing out the Summit with a special tour and lunch at The Power Center.
The second Chef Action Summit—part of the James Beard Foundation’s advocacy programs—is hosted by the Houston First Corporation. Program sponsors include the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, Best Made, Deloitte, Distinguished Vineyards, Tabasco Brand, Tequila Patrón, and YETI. The James Beard Foundation’s programs are also supported by American Airlines, the official airline of the James Beard
Foundation; Capital One, the official credit card and banking partner of the James Beard Foundation; and Windstar Cruises, the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation.
To learn more about the discussions happening at the 2023 JBF Chef Action Summit in Houston or to obtain more details about the participants and speakers at the event, visit https://www.jamesbeard.org/2023-chef-summit.
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Helbiz, Kitchen United Expand Ghost Kitchen Offerings to LA
Helbiz Kitchen, a part of Helbiz, is bringing its ghost kitchen offerings to Los Angeles, expanding on the partnership with Kitchen United, a leading ghost kitchen network in the United States. The partnership began with the announcement that Helbiz Kitchen will come to NYC and Austin.
Starting in January, users in the Westwood and Santa Monica areas of Los Angeles will be able to order their favorite food items from either the Helbiz Kitchen app or Kitchen United MIX app onsite kiosk, or website – kitchenunited.com. Both locations also offer seating for guests who want to sit down and enjoy their meal onsite. Helbiz will bring their diverse set of menus created in Milan — Burger & Sons, Pokaii, Pomodòro, Wabisabi, What the Farm, and La Bottega del Gelato — allowing anyone to satiate their food cravings.
“Los Angeles is a city that respects their food and especially appreciates the ability to dine from a diversity of cuisines,” said Salvatore Palella, CEO of Helbiz. “By bringing our six different restaurant offerings and the ability to select from each in the same order, every household will be able to find exactly the food that they are craving. Los Angeles, like NYC and Austin, will be a city in which Helbiz offers both its micro-mobility and food-delivery related services.”
When available, users can download the Helbiz app on the Apple Store or Google Play. When it becomes available in cities that Helbiz has micro-mobility offerings, users will be able to use the same app to solve their daily transportation and food needs.
Helbiz is a global leader in micro-mobility services. Launched in 2015 and headquartered in New York City, the company offers a diverse fleet of vehicles including e-scooters, e-bicycles, e-mopeds all on one convenient, user-friendly platform with over 65 licenses in cities around the world. The merger with Wheels, leading player in California, adds an unique sit-down scooter along with long term rental subscriptions for individuals, businesses and universities. Helbiz uses a customized, proprietary fleet management technology, artificial intelligence and environmental mapping to optimize operations and business sustainability. Helbiz is expanding its urban lifestyle products and services to include live streaming services, food delivery and more, all accessible within its mobile app.
Founded in 2017, Kitchen United is a leading provider of restaurant hub technology, streamlined logistics and turn-key commercial kitchen space that empowers foodservice operators to tap into the growing off-premise business opportunity and offers consumers a first-of-its-kind multi-restaurant to-go experience. The company offers a value-driven, low-risk way for emerging and established restaurant brands to enter into new markets, grow revenue through off-premise dining and expand delivery areas. Kitchen United currently operates to-go food halls in Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Jose, and Santa Monica, Calif.; Columbus, Ohio; Austin, Dallas, Frisco and Houston, Texas; Scottsdale, Ariz.; New York and Chicago, with more locations opening across the nation. It’s the nation’s first “multi-restaurant ordering” to-go experience that allows foodie fans who love variety to order meals from multiple restaurants, all on the same bill.
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