Rubicon Bakery Gives People a Second Chance

Rubicon Bakery, an all-natural premium bakery with branded products and a private label business is now certified as a B Corporation. Rubicon is recognized for its progressive employment practices. The company has a “no-questions-asked” hiring policy and employs people who have come from the streets, a life of substance abuse, or prison—people who are ready to turn their lives around but need a second chance. The company provides on-the-job training, a living wage, full health benefits and emergency no-interest loans to all of its employees.

Rubicon Bakery joins more than 680 businesses from 60 industries and 24 countries that use the power of business to help solve social and environmental problems.

“We’re delighted to join a group of like-minded business owners who support and set a new standard for values-driven business practices. Together we are proving that companies can be successful in achieving a triple bottom line,” said Rubicon Bakery owner Andrew Stoloff.

Certified B Corporations must meet rigorous, independent and transparent standards for social and environmental performance. By being certified as a B Corporation a company’s social enterprise platform is written into its corporate governance. It is especially fitting that Rubicon Bakery achieved the certification because the bakery was started by the non-profit Rubicon Programs as a social enterprise. The nonprofit realized running a business was not their core competency so they sought a buyer for the bakery. They felt strongly that they would only sell the business to a buyer who would maintain the same social goals. When a buyer was found, B Corporation certification was identified as a way to guarantee that the company would continue to fulfill the non-profit’s social mission to provide employment opportunities for the hardest-to-employ. The bakery has grown 400% and added almost 100 full-time jobs since going private three years ago.

To view employees speaking about how Rubicon has changed their lives, click here.

About Rubicon Bakery

Rubicon Bakery handcrafts delectable desserts from quality, all-natural ingredients and helps rebuild lives by employing, training and supporting people needing a second chance.

Rubicon Bakery is a natural wholesale baking company with two areas of focus: branded products and private-label baked goods. The bakery uses only the finest, all-natural ingredients, and bakes from scratch every. Rubicon never uses artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated fats.

Rubicon Bakery products can be found at independent grocers and Whole Foods throughout California, Washington, Oregon and the Rocky Mountain States. For more information, go to www.rubiconbakery.com.

About B Corporations

B Lab: is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business. For more information, check www.bcorporation.net.

Rubicon Bakery

Rubicon Bakery

We handcraft our delectable desserts from quality, all natural ingredients and help rebuild lives by employing, training and supporting people needing a second chance. Mission Rubicon Bakery was certified as a B-Corporation (a company that provides a public benefit) in 2011 for its commitment to hire people needing a second chance. Many of the Rubicon’s employees came from life on the streets, from prisons, or with substance abuse problems. With a job that provides fair wages, health insurance, and a supportive environment, they have gotten their lives back on track. Rubicon Bakery uses only the finest, all-natural ingredients, made from scratch every day. Rubicon never uses artificial flavors or colors, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated fats. Each cake and tart is hand-finished. Every marshmallow cut by hand.

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