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Amy's Kitchen

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Not to be confused with Amy's Baking Company.
Amy's Kitchen
Company typePrivate
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
FoundersAndy and Rachel Berliner
HeadquartersPetaluma, California
Key people
CEO: Andy Berliner, Executive chairman: Andy Berliner
RevenueIncrease $500 Million[1]
Number of employees
2,700 (2022)
Websiteamys.com

Amy's Kitchen is a family-owned, privately-held American company based in Petaluma, California, that manufactures organic and non-GMO convenience and frozen foods. Founded in 1987 by Andy and Rachel Berliner, and incorporated since 1988,[2] the company took its name from their daughter, Amy.[3] All of Amy's 250+ products are vegetarian and made with organic ingredients.[4] The company also operates a chain of four vegetarian fast food restaurants in California called Amy's Drive Thru.

Company

The co-founders of Amy's Kitchen, Andy and Rachel Berliner, had prior experience in the organic food business. Rachel's family had grown and advocated organic vegetables and fruits since the 1950s. Andy was formerly the president and majority shareholder of the Magic Mountain herb tea company.[3]

Amy's vegetable pot pie

The company's first product was the vegetable pot pie. After mounting a booth at a natural products exhibition, the Berliners began receiving orders from small natural grocers around the country. They soon opened a production facility in Sonoma County, California to meet demand.[5]

Amy's employs over 2,700 people[6] and its corporate headquarters is in Petaluma, California.[3] It operates processing plants in Santa Rosa, California,[7] Medford, Oregon,[8] Pocatello, Idaho,[9] and formerly at San Jose, California.[10] A new processing plant in Goshen, New York is expected to open in 2022.[11][8]

Amy's Kitchen supports non-GMO food and GMO labeling initiatives,[12][13] and was a major sponsor of Farm Aid's annual benefit concert in 2012, 2013, and 2014.[14]

In May 2017, the company hired a new global president, former Mars Inc. executive Xavier Unkovic who had worked as global president of Mars Drinks, CEO of Royal Canin Canada and CEO of Royal Canin USA.[15][16] Unkovic was promoted to CEO in August 2020[15] but left the company in May 2021.[17]

Because Amy's is a private entity, its annual earnings are not public knowledge. It reported gross sales of over $300 million in 2012 on CNBC's "How I Made My Millions."[18] In 2017, the company's revenue was reportedly over $500 million per year in the U.S., the U.K., and France, and was expanding financially in Asia and Australia.[19] In 2020, it rose to $600 million per year with demand from the coronavirus pandemic.[6]

The company achieved B Corporation certification in late 2020, indicating it demonstrates high standards of social and environmental performance.[20]

Safety violations and labor relations

Amy's has been criticized for its working conditions and has had to pay over $100,000 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to settle serious federal health and safety violations. In January and February 2022, Cal/OSHA’s records show an investigator visited the plant on three days in late January and early February. Workplace safety inspectors fined the company $25,070 for three serious violations and 10 other infractions after inspections of the company’s Santa Rosa food production plant. According to the California Division of Occupational Safety, regulators found the company did not ensure that machines to prepare tortillas had proper safety guards secured over hazardous machine components. The agency fined Amy’s $10,125 for the oversight. On the same day, investigators found that emergency showers and eyewash stations were either not reachable within 10 seconds or were not kept free of obstacles, which resulted in a $6,750 fine.[21]

The company has also been accused of union busting.[22][23] In June 2022, workers at its San Jose facility reported dangerous working conditions, health and safety issues, and poor labor practices.[24] In August, the same plant was shutdown after workers started to organize a union with Unite Here, a union representing approximately 300,000 workers in Canada and the U.S.[25] The closure occurred after Amy's Kitchen had disciplined employees for participation in labor activities, coupled with the termination of two employees for supporting a union. Unite Here is seeking a temporary injunction to halt the practices.[24]

Products

Amy's veggie loaf with mashed potatoes and vegetables

As of 2017, the company makes more than 250 organic products in 27 categories, including burritos, bowls, pizza, wraps, soup, chili, and candy.[26] All of Amy's products are vegetarian. Amy's products do not contain meat, animal rennet, seafood, eggs,[27][28] peanuts,[29] bioengineered ingredients,[30] or hydrogenated oils.

The majority of the food products have Kosher certification; there are a small number that still do not as the company is still in the process of transitioning to 100% Kosher as of 2020.[31] The company has over 120 vegan offerings[32] and makes over 130 gluten-free products.[33] Amy's is widely available in the United States and Canada, and increasingly available in other countries such as the U.K., Germany, and Australia. Distribution is growing in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and China.[citation needed]

Amy's Drive Thru

Amy's Drive Thru in Rohnert Park, California
Living roof at Amy's Drive Thru
"The Amy" veggie burger from Amy's Drive Thru

The first Amy's Drive Thru restaurant opened in Rohnert Park, California, on July 20, 2015.[34] It is a vegetarian fast food restaurant concept, featuring veggie burgers, shakes, French fries, pizzas, macaroni and cheese and salads. Vegan and gluten free menu options are available.[35] In July 2019, a takeaway location was opened at San Francisco International Airport in the newly remodeled Harvey Milk Terminal 1.[36] A third Amy's Drive Thru opened in Corte Madera in August 2020,[37] followed by one in Roseville, California in December 2021.[38] The company plans to open locations in Aliso Viejo and Thousand Oaks in 2022.[39]

See also

References

  1. ^ "How This Family Built a Half-Billion-Dollar Business on Frozen Pies". 29 June 2017.
  2. ^ Renee Martin; Don Martin (April 2011). The Risk Takers: 16 Top Entrepreneurs Share Their Strategies for Success. Vanguard Press. pp. 172–. ISBN 978-1-59315-637-4. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Fitter, Fawn (2009-02-19). "Organic growth: How Amy's Kitchen got started". CNNMoney.com. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  4. ^ Michael J. Silverstein; Kate Sayre; John Butman (8 September 2009). Women Want More. HarperCollins. pp. 119–. ISBN 978-0-06-190540-7. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. ^ Watrous, Monica (2020-12-09). "Food Entrepreneur: The past, present and future of Amy's Kitchen". Food Business News. Archived from the original on 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  6. ^ a b Martyn, Amy (2022-01-17). "'Treated like donkeys': Amy's Kitchen accused of leaving some factory workers injured". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  7. ^ "Share your thoughts: Expedite Amy's Kitchen expansion?". North Bay Business Journal. 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2013-03-29.
  8. ^ a b Watson, Elaine (2020-11-05). "Amy's Kitchen gears up to open new plant, predicts revenues will approach $600m in 2020". FoodNavigator-USA. Archived from the original on 2020-11-05. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  9. ^ "New owner of plant means more jobs for Pocatello". 2014-10-29.
  10. ^ Avalos, George (2021-08-25). "Amy's Kitchen opens San Jose production center, seeks more workers". The Mercury News. Archived from the original on 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  11. ^ Area Development News Desk (26 March 2014). "Amy's Kitchen Invests Nearly $100 Million To Establish Goshen, New York, Manufacturing Center". Area Development. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Amy's Kitchen CEO: Only in America can you consume GMOs without knowing it". FoodNavigator-USA.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  13. ^ "GMO - Amy's Kitchen - We Love To Cook For You™". amys.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-14. Retrieved 2014-12-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ a b "Amy's Kitchen promotes Unkovic to CEO". www.foodbusinessnews.net. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Petaluma-based Amy's Kitchen hires global president". The North Bay Business Journal. 2017-11-15. Retrieved 2018-01-12.
  17. ^ Sarfaty, Cheryl (2021-05-11). "Amy's Kitchen CEO departs; founder steps back into top role". The North Bay Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  18. ^ "Amy's Kitchen | E.S. Kluft & Co | Bag Makers, Inc | Brooklyn Flea". How I Made My Millions. 2012-09-18. CNBC.
  19. ^ "This Family Built a Half-Billion-Dollar Business on Frozen Pies". Inc.com. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  20. ^ Watrous, Monica (2020-12-16). "Amy's Kitchen becomes Certified B Corporation". Food Business News. Archived from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  21. ^ "State fines Amy's Kitchen $25,000 for labor safety violations at Santa Rosa plant". 5 August 2022.
  22. ^ Facundo, Jarod (16 May 2022). "Hell in Amy's Kitchen". The American Prospect. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  23. ^ "'Treated like donkeys': Amy's Kitchen accused of leaving some factory workers injured". NBC News. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  24. ^ a b Shanker, Deena (2022-06-01). "Amy's Kitchen Faces Labor Complaints at Its San Jose Plant". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  25. ^ Rooney, Kimberly (2022-08-04). "Amy's Kitchen closes San Jose facility after workers organize". Prism. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  26. ^ "Amy's Kitchen Foods". Amy's Kitchen. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  27. ^ "Eggs". Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  28. ^ "Cheese rennet". Amy's Kitchen. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Peanuts". Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  30. ^ "Bioengineering". Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  31. ^ "Tablet K". Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Do you offer vegan options?". Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  33. ^ [1] Amy's Gluten Free product list
  34. ^ Irwin, Heather (July 20, 2015). "Hundreds line up for debut of Amy's Drive Thru". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  35. ^ Digitale, Robert (June 24, 2015). "Amy's Drive Thru expects to open organic Rohnert Park eatery in July". Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  36. ^ Starostinetskaya, Anna (2019-08-09). "Vegetarian Eatery Amy's Drive Thru Now Open at San Francisco International Airport". VegNews.com. Archived from the original on 2019-08-10. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  37. ^ Battelle, Leanne (2020-07-28). "Organic, vegetarian Amy's Drive Thru opens in Corte Madera on Aug. 4". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  38. ^ Ordaz, Leticia (December 1, 2021). "Amy's Drive-Thru opens vegetarian fast-food restaurant in Roseville: The fast-food restaurant prides itself on being eco-friendly". KCRA. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  39. ^ Axworthy, Nicole (2021-06-07). "Amy's Meatless Drive-Thru Is Coming to Southern California". VegNews.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
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