Justin's facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Food production |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Justin Gold |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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| Products |
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Number of employees
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30+ (2015) |
| Parent | Hormel |
Justin's is a company from America that makes yummy, natural, and organic nut butters and peanut butter cups. They make jars and small squeeze packs of nut butter. They also create different kinds of organic peanut butter cups. Their peanut butter cups are certified organic by the USDA. They also use cocoa that helps protect rainforests. You can find their products in many stores across the United States, like Whole Foods, Wegmans, Sprouts, Starbucks, and Target.
Contents
The Story of Justin's
Justin's company started in 2004. It was founded by a person named Justin Gold. Justin studied environmental topics in college. After college, he moved to Colorado in 2002.
How the Idea Started
Justin was a vegetarian and loved being outdoors. He started making his own nut butters. He needed them for protein and energy for his adventures. His roommates kept eating his tasty creations! This made Justin think he should sell his nut butters.
He began selling them at the Boulder Farmers' Market. Soon after, Whole Foods Market agreed to sell his products. Justin got money from friends and family to start his business. He officially named it Justin's, using the same name he put on the jars he made for himself.
Growing the Business
In 2006, Justin's came out with portable squeeze packs. They were the first nut butter brand to sell these handy single-serve packs. Since then, Justin's has also made organic dark, milk, and white chocolate peanut butter cups. They also have other yummy spreads, like chocolate hazelnut butter and maple almond butter.
In 2011, a magazine called Progressive Grocer said Justin's peanut butter cups were one of the best new products of the year. By 2012, Justin's was selling millions of squeeze packs and jars of nut butter. Their fast growth put them on Inc. magazine's list of the fastest-growing companies in the country.
By 2014, the company had over 30 employees. They were growing very fast with their seven flavors of nut butters and three kinds of peanut butter cups. In May 2016, a bigger company called Hormel bought Justin's for a lot of money.
Helping Others
Justin's cares about helping people. They are a founding member of the Whole Planet Foundation's Microloan-a-Month program. This foundation helps people around the world start small businesses. Justin's gives one microloan every month to someone in a developing country.
Justin's has also worked with Conscious Alliance. This group helps people who are very hungry. Justin's employees go on trips every year to volunteer. They help with hunger relief efforts on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Awards and Recognition
Justin Gold, the founder, was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013. This award was for consumer products. In the same year, Justin's nut butter won a Clean Choice Award from Clean Eating Magazine.
In 2014, Prevention magazine listed Justin's as one of the "100 Cleanest Packaged Foods." Justin's has also been on Inc. Magazine’s list of America's fastest-growing companies. They were also chosen as an editor's pick by Gourmet Retailer Magazine and a press pick from the Natural Products Expo in 2015.
