greyston bakery
greyston bakery products are available in our northeast, north atlantic, mid atlantic, southwest, rocky mountain and southern pacific regions. ask about them in the bakery department .
for more than 30 years, greyston bakery in yonkers, new york has been baking sweet treats to sell around the country .
have you ever tried greyston bakery brownies? what’s your favorite product that gives back? let me know in the comments below .
greyston bakery is based on a triple bottom line with the dual objectives of job creation & personal development for local residents, financial support for the greyston foundation, and mitigation of environmental impact .
i just watched about this wonderful bakery on the today show. you guys are wonderful !
not only has greyston bakery given the foundation the financial capability to run its programs, but the bakery itself is doing its part to further the social mission of the foundation. for over 30 years, greyston has proudly maintained an open - door hiring policy, offering employment opportunities regardless of education, work history, or past incarceration, homelessness or drug use .
greyston bakery is part of the greyston foundation. located in yonkers, new york, the greyston foundation is an integrated network of programs providing jobs, workforce development, low - income housing, supportive services, child care, after - school programs, tenant services and community gardens for individuals and their families to move forward on their path to self - sufficiency .
learn more at their website, www. greyston. org, and order some brownies. you will be glad you did! greyston posted this video on youtube explaining their story well :
greyston bakery is run by the zen community of new york, an interreligious buddhist association based in riverdale. it exists so that the community members can merge physical labor and meditation while earning their living .
but out - of - this - world treats are only part of what makes this bakery so special .
a storied social enterprise, greyston bakery has been baking gourmet brownies, cookies, and good will just north of new york city since 1982. the $ 10 million for - profit bakery is most famous for its long - standing status as ben & jerry' s brownie supplier and for having an open - hiring policy that provides the people of yonkers, ny with employment opportunity regardless of work history. committed to a triple bottom line, greyston bakery continues to be a pioneer in the world of social enterprise .
mr. barragato, a one - time quaker who will be ordained a monk later this year, said the bakery was now testing donut recipes. the zen community rents the bakery, but hopes to buy it and open a retail shop in the front of the building, said sensei glassman. the bakery' s products are also sold at the greyston cafe, a small shop run by the community on mosholu avenue in riverdale .
sensei glassman also hopes that the bakery can be a way to relate to the yonkers neighborhood. greyston provides bread and rolls to area agencies that help feed the poor, and if a shop can be opened near the bakery the buddhists may learn how to cook breads for the hispanic community in the area, the abbot said .
anyone that comes to the bakery is given the chance to work, no questions asked; they become a part of the apprenticeship program and are given foundation support to ensure the greatest chance for success in their new job. in 2012, greyston bakery provided employment opportunities and training to 181 residents within the yonkers community. watch this video for the story of one greyston employee (fair warning: you may get tears in your cookies) .
linking the night' s work to prayer and meditation may not change the chemistry of the recipes, but something about the process at the greyston bakery creates products good enough to be sold at gourmet restaurants and health food stores in the metropolitan area. greyston bakery can barely make enough each night to supply its list of nearly 100 regular customers, said stefano barragato, general manager of the bakery. greyston' s muffins, scones, potato bread rolls, poppyseed cakes, linzer tarts and macaroons are shipped to bloomingdale' s, neiman marcus, the guggenheim museum, the montauk inn, restaurants in the world trade center, dean & deluca' s and several area hotels .
whole foods market first partnered with greyston bakery in 2012 with the launch of single - serve whole planet brownies (pro - tip: try the brown sugar blondie flavor). in addition to supporting job creation at the bakery, 2% of brownie sales go to whole planet foundation ®, which seeks to alleviate poverty through microcredit loans in 57 countries. the brownies can be found in most of our stores across the us – ask at your local whole foods market bakery .
the wonderfully fudgy brownies that we use in our ice cream come from new york’s greyston bakery, where producing scrumptious baked goods is part of their greater mission to provide jobs and training to low - income residents of yonkers, new york .
they have a favorite saying at greyston bakery: “we don’t hire people to bake brownies, we bake brownies to hire people. ” like ben & jerry’s, founder bernie glassman believes that business success and social progress go hand in hand .
this year, greyston bakery is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and received a fantastic present from new york state: the ability to enroll as a benefit corporation. on february 10, 2012, greyston bakery became the first social enterprise to register as a benefit corporation in the state of new york. new york joins six other pioneering states that have passed benefit corporation legislation, which allows companies to demonstrate higher standards of corporate purpose, accountability and transparency through this new corporate designation .
this year, greyston bakery created a new line of greyston cookie thins, launching nationwide in june! because greyston is currently in process of receiving a whole foods market local producer loan, i got a sneak peek and let me tell you – these cookies are delicious. thin, crispy and packed with flavor. they’re launching three flavors – chocolate fudge brownie crisp, brown sugar blondie crisp and chocolate mint brownie crisp, and 1% of profits will go to the whole planet foundation .
a certified b corp, and new york state’s first benefit corporation, greyston has become a role model for companies looking to do more for their communities. profits from the bakery help support its parent organization, the non - profit greyston foundation, which provides child care, housing, health care, job training, a computer learning center, and more for low - income people in the community of yonkers .
working at greyston bakery means that you’re part of a family. that same spirit is reflected in greyston’s approach to the community. ceo mike brady says, that “the brownie in chocolate fudge brownie has allowed 2, 000 people to find work that may have otherwise never gotten a job. and those 2, 000 people over time have put $ 15 million back into the struggling economy of southwest yonkers. ”
ken sailor, a soft - spoken member of the community who is now chief baker in the yonkers establishment, was one of those who spent about 20 hours a day learning from the zen bakery in san francisco. it takes about 30 people to run the yonkers bakery, he said .
greyston employees regularly volunteer in the community, including a record 420 hours in 2014. they host clean - up and beautification days, plant garden plots, and more. in 2013, greyston even opened a new housing development with 92 energy - efficient apartments for local working families .
a lead operator in the packing room, lisa marie bryant loves that greyston offers advancement for women and wants to become a supervisor one day .
in october i had the tremendous honor of meeting microcredit clients while traveling to peru as a whole foods market team member volunteer. it is impossible to put in to words the genuine gratitude and pride i witnessed and seeing the impact these loans funded by whole planet foundation support will have on future generations. i have a comparable feeling after reading about greyston’s bakers on a mission. next time you are in your local whole foods market bakery department and hunting for the perfect brownie, choose one from greyston bakery and you’ll be happy to know the life - changing impact it will have on others, worldwide .
founded in 1982 by a zen buddhist, greyston bakery has evolved their idea of open - hiring to a larger foundation that supports affordable housing, hiv / aids health services, community gardens and a child care center, among many other services. could this company get any better? oh yes, they can !
my favorite sweet treat. thank you for all that you guys do, and continue to dish out great bakery. you now have a fan for life! : )
founded in 1982 as a social enterprise by aeronautical - engineer - turned - buddhist - monk bernie glassman, greyston bakery is as committed to providing jobs and job training for individuals who face barriers to employment as it is to crafting award - winning gourmet baked goods. ben cohen and bernie glassman met back in 1987 and, a year later, greyston began providing ben & jerry’s with delicious brownies for some of our most popular flavors. it’s like it was meant to be !
greyston bakery is a leading model for social enterprise building a coalition with employees, community and shareholders. we properly compensate our employees: fair / living wage, health benefits, and direct participation in the profitability of the company. we train, promote from within, and mentor our employees, who we source from the local community .
shaniqua anderson went to jail for two years and never finished high school. thanks to greyston, she has a job and was able to earn her ged .
probably best known for its bakery - - which produces the brownies in the famous ben and jerry' s ice cream flavors chocolate fudge brownie, dave matthews' magic brownies, half - baked, and neapolitan dynamite - - the greyston foundation is actually so much more. in fact, it is recognized as a pioneer in social enterprise .
i recently had the honor of hearing the president and ceo of greyston bakery, mike brady, speak at whole foods market ® ’s global support offices. i walked away from his talk not only inspired by a company creating a better tomorrow, but also moved by their mission. i was so enthused that i had to share their story .
the bakery was opened last december in an effort to provide a steady income for the 35 monks and students living at greyston seminary, but its chief religious purpose is to teach'' meditationin - action,'' or what sensei bernard glassman, abbot of the community, often refers to as the'' work - practice'' of zen buddhism .
do you ever bite in to a brownie and wonder what makes it so delicious? perhaps it’s the cage - free eggs? possibly it’s the perfect chocolate chip crunch? maybe it’s made with love: real, genuine, wanna - hug - your - grandma love? i found the secret ingredient to greyston bakery’s desserts…they’re delightful because they’re baked with a fresh start .
they have had a partnership with ben & jerry’s for over 25 years and produce treats for whole foods markets nationwide. a percentage of profits from the bakery’s cookies go to the whole planet foundation .
there is an initial training period for new employees at greyston, and like many companies hiring unskilled labor, there is high initial turnover. however, the average tenure of those that make it through the training period is about three years. greyston considers it a success when an employee moves on to a new job, using the skills they have learned in the process of working at the foundation. greyston defines their mission well in their tagline :
we don' t hire people to bake brownies; we bake brownies to hire people .
lamont dandridge was out of work for six years. he’s only been at greyston for a short while, but it’s changed his life. “i’m not letting this opportunity go, ” he says .
but again, the bakery is just a part of the bigger picture. the reach of this mission is a model of social enterprise for other entrepreneurs wishing to explore the possibilities of starting or growing a business to empower not just themselves, but the community around them. greyston foundation is now a $ 15, 000, 000 integrated network of for - profit and not - for - profit entities, providing jobs, workforce development, low - income housing, supportive services, childcare, after - school programs, comprehensive hiv health care, tenant services, community gardens and - - oh yeah - - that gourmet bakery business .
they say that timing is everything. greyston learned this lesson recently when qvc showcased greyston brownies on television. the spot was originally scheduled to air in december but was pushed into january. as a result, sales were less than expected because people were thinking more about gym memberships and diets than chocolate indulgence. apparently, the qvc phone lines were busy filling orders for
some grapefruit guy .
sensei glassman says that, though they spend hours in meditation, he and his students seek to be active in the world around them. so, on several levels, the bakery is a blend of the philosophical and practical. the abbot likes to compare the bakery to the work of the ancient monasteries, both buddhist and christian, even though those houses of prayer and meditation didn' t use an apple computer to keep track of their products or customers .
undoubtedly, greyston gives back to their local community but last year they decided to go worldwide by teaming up with whole planet foundation. since their brownie in support of whole planet foundation launched last may, greyston has donated over $ 6, 500 to help alleviate poverty through microcredit loans. during the recent five - week whole planet foundation prosperity campaign, they raised $ 4, 500 for microcredit loans, supplying a loan every 3 days !
it took more than a year to plan the bakery, the abbot said.'' we had to look for the kind of livelihood that seemed right for us,'' said sensei glassman.'' it has to have a moral character, provide training for our community in work and meditation as well as support us economically.'' a zen community in san francisco had a successful bakery, so sensei glassman sent three monks to california to learn baking and study successful recipes .
in a community like yonkers, where 18. 5% of residents live below the poverty line (compared to 14. 5% nationally) and the unemployment rate is 11% (compared to 7. 5% nationally), the greyston foundation provides a holistic solution to help break the generational cycle of poverty. they operate a profitable business baking delicious brownies and cookies for customers across the world, and all profits go back into greyston foundation programs !
sec members learned many lessons about the challenges faced by a company balancing a strong social mission with strict profit goals. trip participants agreed that the greyston bakery has many of the fundamental ingredients for a successful social enterprise. to show our enthusiastic support for its mission, many of us purchased armfuls of delights like the decadent triple chocolate mousse, carrot, and lotus in mud cakes before we left. if you would like to check them out, visit www. greystonbakery. com .
if you’ve ever enjoyed our chocolate fudge brownie or half - baked™ ice cream flavors, then you’ve already had a taste of greyston’s greatness. we first tried their incredible brownies back in the late 1980s, and we’ve been ordering tons of them ever since .
he speaks with a quiet intensity about the bakery as a spiritual as well as an economic endeavor.'' we have to feel right about our ingredients,'' he said, as he watched dozens of eggs cracked and separated by hand for the night' s baking. he worries about the quality of the chocolate used in the rich brownies and bittersweet queen of sheba cake. he' s proud of the fact that the ovens at the bakery provide traditional, flat, low - roofed baking areas, but are gas - fired through a design that makes efficient use of heat .
mr. walls also shared with us one of his initial hurdles involving the bakery' s first shipment to ben & jerry' s. greyston was originally expected to deliver extra thin brownies for ben & jerry' s new line of ice cream sandwiches. the shipment arrived, but the brownies completely stuck together, forming a massive 50 - pound block. trying to pull them apart resulted in lots of brownie bits. luckily, this potential operational nightmare had a happy ending. ben & jerry' s simply mixed the brownie bits into chocolate ice cream and voilà! - the serendipitous invention of chocolate fudge brownie ice cream .
one of the most unique components to greyston is their open - hiring policy that provides employees in yonkers, new york, with a job and a new beginning regardless of past experiences. this not only promotes economic development and positive changes for individuals and families in the community but it also is catalyst for other social enterprises .
through their groundbreaking open - door hiring policy, anyone who wants a job at greyston is given the chance to work, regardless of educational background, work history, or past social barriers, such as incarceration, homelessness, or drug use. there are no background checks and no prescreening of any kind—when a position becomes available, the next person on the waiting list gets it, no questions asked .
i spoke with steven brown, the ceo of greyston, who attributed the success of this organization to many things, including good luck and a willingness to take risks. but, more than anything, what stands out to me is their open hiring policy. this unusual but amazingly successful model of giving anyone who is willing to work a chance empowered greyston to help many people others would not .
the assumptions we make about people (and the obstacles we put in front of people) are not always necessary ,
says brown .
we are in an inner city community, and there are a lot of people who need work in many of our cities accross the country. the extent that we can create value and oppourtunity is the path out of distress for many of these communities. but it' s not easy .
i asked steven brown about the effects of technology and automation on the business, and whether or not machines were taking or producing jobs .
one of the key things to remember about a social enterprise is you have to stay true to your mission, but you also have to be a sucessful business. we always try to invest in the bakery to make sure that it can meet the needs of its customers. we are a lot less labor intensive than when we started, yet we have more employees. we have to be able to grow and stay competitive .
i found this response reassuring, and a great indicator that technology can create more jobs, even in a case where automation takes over tasks previously done by hand .
community involvement includes in - kind and financial donations, employee volunteer days, or enduring partnerships that have the power to bring positive, measurable change to both your company and the communities in which you operate .
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corporate citizenship delivers value when companies optimize their core competencies to address opportunities, goals, and operating context issues in the environmental, social, and governance (esg) aspects of business. research reveals that corporate responsibility is a business imperative in today' s global economy .
sustainability reporting is the disclosure and communication of environmental, social, and governance (esg) goals—as well as a company’s progress towards them. the benefits of sustainability reporting include improved corporate reputation, building consumer confidence, increased innovation, and even improvement of risk management .
serving more than 470 corporate members per year around the globe, the center for corporate citizenship is one of the largest corporate membership organizations in the united states .
register for a course or earn a certificate to build your skills in corporate citizenship. courses are taught by business experts and top faculty from the carroll school of management at boston college .
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vanguard has developed a number of initiatives to achieve its objective of supporting and educating children, including the my classroom economy program .
a guide to help you address the environmental impacts in your operations and at your own events .
scan, analyze, experiment, evolve: hear from companies who have scanned their horizons, analyzed their circumstances, experimented with their programs, and evolved into corporate citizenship leaders .
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paul daniels, a baker, spent 9 years in prison for dealing drugs, but now he enjoys being a role model in the community .
after being in and out of prison for years, darren patterson is a mixer now, and a union representative. “i feel like the man that i’m supposed to be, ” he says .
all of which is to say, there’s no need to feel guilty the next time you dig into a pint or two of chocolate fudge brownie. those delicious chunks do more than delight: they make a real difference in the lives of thousands of people .
from a renovated gas station in burlington, vermont, to far - off places with names we sometimes mispronounce, the journey that began in 1978 with 2 guys and the ice cream business they built is as legendary as the ice cream is euphoric .
our 30 - minute guided ice cream factory tour is fun and educational for all ages. we offer guests the opportunity to learn about our ice cream manufacturing process and explain how we incorporate values - led decisions that drive our business .
we became a b corp to engage in the discussion about values - led business and to formally join the movement for a new way of doing business .
the environment section of the assessment evaluates a company' s environmental performance through its facilities; materials, resource, and energy use; and emissions. where applicable, it also considers a company' s transportation / distribution channels and environmental impact of its supply chain. this section also measures whether a company' s products or services are designed to solve an environmental issue, including products that aid in the provision of renewable energy, conserve resources, reduce waste, promote land / wildlife conservation, prevent toxic / hazardous substance or pollution, or educate, measure, or consult to solve environmental problems .
the worker section of the survey assesses the company' s relationship with its workforce. this section measures how the company treats its workers through compensation, benefits, training, and ownership opportunities provided to workers. it also focuses on the overall work environment within the company through management / worker communication, job flexibility and corporate culture, and worker health and safety practices .
the customers section of the assessment measures the impact a company has on its customers. the section focuses on whether a company sells products or services that promote public benefit, and if those products / services are targeted towards serving underserved populations. questions in this section will measure whether a company' s product or service is designed to solve a social or environmental issue (e. g. improves health, preserves environment or creates economic opportunity to individuals or communities, promotes the arts / sciences, or increases the flow of capital to purpose - driven enterprises) .
the community section of the survey assesses a company' s impact on its community. the community section evaluates a company' s supplier relations, diversity, and involvement in the local community. the section also measures the company' s practices and policies around community service and charitable giving. in addition, this section includes if a company' s product or service is designed to solve a social issue, including access to basic services, health, education, economic opportunity, arts, and increasing the flow of capital to purpose - driven enterprises .
the governance section of the assessment evaluates a company' s accountability and transparency. the section focuses on the company' s mission, stakeholder engagement, and overall transparency of the company' s practices and policies .
employees: open hiring policy creates opportunity for workers with barriers to employment; > 5% profits shared with employees; > 80% health insurance premiums paid for employees; 6 + weeks maternity leave .
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we hope to inspire thousands of business leaders to adopt our model and potentially get millions of people jobs that otherwise wouldn’t be able to work .
it has apple pay and it’s so easy to keep ordering these yummy brownies. might have to join a 12 step program to help me stop ordering .
i just had your brown sugar blondie for the first time and it may have been the best brownie i have ever had. it was then even better to find out how much you are giving back to the community and the
impact you are making. i cant wait to buy more to support what you are doing (and to eat delicious brownies )
the brown sugar blondie is the best brownie i' ve ever tasted. the story of this company and the help they provide to the community is incredible
i have been buying their blondie bars at whole foods for a few years now. they are out of this world! i highly recommend them: - )
just listened to the president & ceo mike brady speak on this great company on wnyc. thank you for giving back to the community of yonkers with all that you do! other organizati
have the best thin cookies i have ever tasted... it' s nice to see the people on the box who are making them for me... i love the personal touch
fudge brownie
in their meals on the plane and i fell in love with them. while they are pricey to ship to my house i look forward to making my first purchase because
my mom sent me a box of these brownies for my birthday. when i saw that they were shipped in plastic packaging ,
i just watched a talk given by mike brady and dion drew. your company is doing great, great things. kudos to you. dion, you aren' t the only crybaby - your tears of joy are contagious
will buy their product next time i am able. doing good for people can be good for the bottom line. they have proved it !
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brown says
really, we were a benefit corporation long before the term was coined. the biggest story here is that a lot of companies, we think, should adopt the goals and values of a b - corp model. you are not only in business to make a profit for your shareholders, but a much larger community that has a stake in what you are doing. this important for your business, but consumers react to it too. it is a growing movement .
this piece is part of my businesses with impact series. i' m highlighting companies that fit within what i consider to be a scope of
significant social impact ,
meaning that they exhibit a high degree of operational awareness of corporate responsibility, social capital investments and philanthropy. while my research is not qualitative per se, i am confident about featuring companies doing inspiring things to change the world in real ways. if you have a suggestion for a company or individual to feature, please contact me .
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students witness the principles of an innovative social enterprise in action. by linda chung' 07, bottom line .
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i have a serious sweet tooth and pride myself on knowing almost every baked good within my local whole foods market®. and lucky me – the company i’m about to profile combines two things i dearly love – sweet treats and social missions !
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per 2 1 / 2 oz - calories: 330kcal | fat: 19. 00g | carbs: 36. 00g | protein: 4. 00g
per 1 serving - calories: 300kcal | fat: 18. 00g | carbs: 33. 00g | protein: 4. 00g
per 1 serving - calories: 310kcal | fat: 18. 00g | carbs: 33. 00g | protein: 4. 00g
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'' true meditation must be realized in all daily activities, no matter how complex,'' said sensei glassman, a former aerospace engineer who was installed last june as the first american abbot of the buddhist community. members of the community practice the intense form of silent meditation known as za - zen for several hours each day at their riverdale headquarters.'' but the physical as well as the spiritual side of life is important to zen,'' said the abbot.'' workpractice has always been considered better than mere meditation in silence.''
'' in china,'' he said,'' buddhist monasteries often engaged in polishing rice, which refines it for cooking. medieval christian monks farmed or maintained vineyards as part of their spiritual discipline.''
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uniting zen meditation with the regimen of cookie - baking has not been easy, said the abbot, but his students are learning.'' zen is not a cloistered discipline, it is to be an active life,'' he said.'' we want our meditation to bring a sense of order to the daily chaos.''
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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 . 
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.
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.