Grand Central Bakery, a chain of bakery-cafés in Portland and Seattle, recently earned B Corp Certification as a business that meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
With its B Corp certification, Grand Central Bakery joins Northwest companies such as Nossa Familia Coffee, B-Line Sustainable Delivery, A & R Solar, New Seasons Market, and Hopworks Urban Brewery, as well as larger corporations like Patagonia, Klean Kanteen, and Warby Parker.
“Our B Corp certification validates the way we’ve been doing business for years,” says Grand Central Bakery CEO Claire Randall. “It also tells us where we can improve; we have so much room to grow, and with B Corp certification, we’re held accountable for that work.”
To earn B Corp certification, Grand Central Bakery completed an assessment of its business practices, corporate governance, environmental and community impacts, and company culture. It excelled in several of these areas. Among those:
- 59 percent of ingredients and supplies are purchased from independently owned and local vendors
- 50 percent of management positions are held by women, and advancement opportunities are encouraged for all
- All 384 employees receive 8 hours of paid community service time annually
- Grants and partnerships with six local nonprofits focused on environment, immigrant rights, and workplace equality
- Grand Central is recognized as a local industry leader in food waste reduction. Managers set goals, measure improvement, and train staff to meet company benchmarks
Certified B Corporations must renew certification every three years to show how they improve their social and environmental impact.
