Clif Bar

Last updated
Clif Bar & Company
Company type Subsidiary
Founded1992;32 years ago (1992)
Headquarters Emeryville, California, United States
Key people
Gary Erickson, Kit Crawford (co-owners and co-CEOs)
Products Energy bars and snacks
Parent Mondelez International
Website clifbar.com

Clif Bar & Company is an American company that produces energy foods and drinks. The company's flagship product, CLIF BAR, was created by Gary Erickson and Lisa Thomas. The company is based in Emeryville, California and was privately held until 2022 when it was acquired by Mondelez International for $2.9 billion. [1] [2] In April 2013, Kevin Cleary was named CEO of the company, Rich Boragno was named CFO, and co-owners Erickson and Kit Crawford became co-chief visionary officers. [3] In 2018, Cleary departed the company and Erickson and Crawford became co-CEOs, positions they held previously.

Contents

History

A baker and former mountain guide, [4] Erickson got the idea for his product in 1990 on a day-long, 175 mile bike ride, for which he packed Powerbars, the only energy bars on the market at that time. [5] [6] Two years later, after experimenting in his mother's kitchen, he settled on a recipe for what would become the CLIF BAR. [7] Erickson tried several ventures—including Forza, Torque, and Gary's Bar—before settling on CLIF BAR, named after his father Clifford. [8] The packaging image of a rock climber was first drawn by Doug Gilmour on a napkin over dinner in San Francisco. [8] At a September 1991 bike show, Erickson debuted three flavors: double chocolate, apricot, and date oatmeal.[ citation needed ] In its first year, sales of CLIF BAR exceeded $700,000, fueled primarily by strong sales in bike shops and the growth of the healthy and natural foods movement. [5] Sales doubled each year, and by 1997, revenue surpassed $20 million. [9] In 1997, the company name was changed from Kali's SportNaturals to Clif Bar, Inc. [10] In 2010, the company moved into a new headquarters in the EmeryTech Building in Emeryville, California. [11] Designed by ZGF Architects LLP, the former manufacturing plant earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum status. [12] The building was repurposed and sustainably-designed with photovoltaic panels, solar thermal panels, reclaimed wood, plants, and other biophilic features. [13]

Two LUNA Bars: Lemon Zest (left) and Nutz Over Chocolate (right) Two LUNA Bars.jpg
Two LUNA Bars: Lemon Zest (left) and Nutz Over Chocolate (right)

In March 1999, Clif Bar introduced LUNA Bar, specifically marketed towards women. In April 2000, Erickson and Thomas turned down a $120 million offer from Quaker Oats to buy the company. [14]

Clif Bar & Company was ranked the No. 1 brand in the Forbes "Breakaway Brands" survey, conducted by Landor Associates using Young & Rubicam's BrandAsset Valuator database measuring brand momentum from 2006 to 2009. [15]

In June 2022, it was announced that the company will be bought by Mondelez International for $2.9 billion. [16]

Other ventures

Erickson and Crawford founded the Clif Bar Family Foundation in 2006. [17] Through 2012 it had committed $1 million to promote organic seed research and conserve crop genetic diversity. [18]

Erickson and Crawford also own the Clif Family Winery & Farm in the Napa Valley, which had its first national release in 2008. [19]

Products

Two Clif Bars Two Clif Bars.jpg
Two Clif Bars
Clif Builder's Bar, a protein bar Clif Chocolate Mint Builder's Bar cut in half 2.jpg
Clif Builder's Bar, a protein bar

In addition to its signature original CLIF BAR, the company produces a variety of energy bars tailored to women, children, and other markets, a sports drink, and fruit-based items such as fruit ropes. [20] In 2014, the company unveiled four gel-like squeezable 'energy foods' that were expanded in early 2016 to encompass six flavors. [21] All products use organic ingredients. Seventy percent of the company's purchased ingredients are certified organic. [18]

Environmental sustainability

The Clif Bar company has instituted policies intended to make it more green-friendly. It switched to organic ingredients and eliminated shrink-wrap, saving 90,000 pounds of plastic and $400,000 annually, and invested in wind energy to offset fossil fuel usage. [22]

To help reduce fuel consumption, Clif Bar began giving employees $6,500 in 2007 to switch to bio-diesel or high-mileage hybrid cars. [6] As a bio-diesel incentive program, "Cool Commute" was the first of its type nationwide and drew praise from Al Gore for helping to aid the fight against global warming. [23] In 2008, the company began giving employees up to $500 to purchase a commuter bike, with annual rewards up to $960 for getting to work on foot, bicycle, or public transportation. [24] The company also began offering employees up to $1,000 annually to make eco-improvement to their homes, such as insulation, solar panel installation, and new windows. [25] In April 2009, Clif Bar joined Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy also known as BICEP, a coalition of companies including Nike, eBay and The North Face, with the goal of passing progressive climate and energy legislation. [26] In October 2015, Clif Bar along with other members BICEP released a joint letter pledging to accelerate business action on climate change and urging governments to do the same. [27]

In 2012, amid concerns over child labor and possible slavery on West African cocoa farms, Clif Bar was challenged to disclose the source of their cocoa. [28] On March 5, 2012, the company announced that thenceforth "100 percent of cocoa ingredients for CLIF BAR will be sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms." [29]

Company culture

In June 2010, Clif Bar initiated an employee stock ownership program (ESOP), which gave 20 percent ownership of the company to its employees, with Crawford and Erickson retaining the other 80 percent. [30] [31]

Company facilities include an on-site gym, rock climbing wall, two yoga room/dance studios, and massage rooms. There are on-site showers so employees can shower after their workout. Employees also have access to free counseling and life coaching. [32] Employees can bring their dogs to work and get two and a half hours of paid exercise each week with free personal training. Clif Bar & Company was named among Outside magazine's Best Places to Work in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]

In November 2014 Clif Bar made a decision to limit risky behavior by its sponsored athletes, stating "going forward we will not be sponsoring climbers who are primarily recognized for free-soloing, B.A.S.E. jumping, and highlining. This change in sponsorship approach did not come without great debate." The company reasoned that "[they] no longer feel good about benefitting from the amount of risk certain athletes are taking in areas of the sport where there is no margin for error; where there is no safety net". [38]

In 2018, the company introduced the “Re-Tern” program, in which pre-retiree Clif Bar employees can apply for an internship at the Community Department to be trained in non-profit operations. The goal is to prepare individuals retiring from the company for “a post-Clif Bar place in the world.” [39]

Community outreach

Clif Bar began community outreach in 2001, with the initial aim of donating 2,080 employee volunteer hours to community service. [40] In 2010, Clif employees donated 5,290 hours. [41] In 2008, the "In Good Company" initiative was announced, which organizes employees across several companies[ which? ] to assist in larger development projects, such as in New Orleans, East Oakland, and the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. [42]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadbury</span> British multinational confectionery company

Cadbury, formerly Cadbury's and Cadbury Schweppes, is a British multinational confectionery company owned by Mondelez International since 2010. It is the second-largest confectionery brand in the world, after Mars. Cadbury is internationally headquartered in Greater London, and operates in more than 50 countries worldwide. It is known for its Dairy Milk chocolate, the Creme Egg and Roses selection box, and many other confectionery products. One of the best-known British brands, in 2013 The Daily Telegraph named Cadbury among Britain's most successful exports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hershey Company</span> American food company

The Hershey Company, often called just Hershey or Hershey's, is an American multinational confectionery company headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hersheypark and Hershey's Chocolate World. The Hershey Company is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world; it also manufactures baked products, such as cookies and cakes, and sells beverages like milkshakes, as well as other products. The Hershey Company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894 as the Hershey Chocolate Company, originally established as a subsidiary of his Lancaster Caramel Company. The Hershey Trust Company owns a minority stake but retains a majority of the voting power within the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caramilk</span> Chocolate brand by Cadbury

Caramilk is a brand name used for two distinct chocolate bar products made by Cadbury. Both were introduced in 1968. The Canadian version of Caramilk is a milk chocolate bar filled with caramel. In Australia the Caramilk brand is used for a caramelised white chocolate bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milk chocolate</span> Solid chocolate containing added milk

Milk chocolate is a form of solid chocolate containing cocoa, sugar and milk. It is the most consumed type of chocolate, and is used in a wide diversity of bars, tablets and other confectionery products. Milk chocolate contains smaller amounts of cocoa solids than dark chocolates do, and contains milk solids. While its taste has been key to its popularity, milk chocolate was historically promoted as a healthy food, particularly for children.

Butterfinger is a candy bar manufactured by the Ferrara Candy Company, a subsidiary of Ferrero. It consists of a layered crisp peanut butter core covered in a "chocolatey" coating. It was invented by Otto Schnering of the Curtiss Candy Company in 1923. A popularity contest chose the name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milka</span> Confectionery brand primarily sold in Europe

Milka is a Swiss brand of chocolate confectionery. Originally made in Switzerland in 1901 by Suchard, it has been produced in Lörrach, Germany, from 1901. Since 2012 it has been owned by US-based company Mondelez International, when it started following the steps of its predecessor Kraft Foods Inc., which had taken over the brand in 1990. It is sold in bars and a number of novelty shapes for Easter and Christmas. Products with the Milka brand also include chocolate-covered cookies and biscuits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reese's Take 5</span> Candy bar made by The Hershey Company

Reese's Take 5 is a candy bar that was released by The Hershey Company in December 2004. The original name of the candy bar was TAKE5 but common usage among consumers added a space. In June 2019, when the candy bar became part of the Reese's family, the name was officially changed to Reese's Take 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green & Black's</span> British chocolate company

Green & Black's is a British chocolate company founded in 1991. The company produces a range of organic food products, including: chocolate bars, ice cream, biscuits and hot chocolate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Types of chocolate</span> Classification of different chocolate types

Chocolate is a food made from roasted and ground cocoa beans mixed with fat and powdered sugar to produce a solid confectionery. There are several types of chocolate, classified primarily according to the proportion of cocoa and fat content used in a particular formulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Côte d'Or (chocolate)</span> Belgian chocolate company

Côte d'Or is a producer of Belgian chocolate, owned by Mondelez International. Côte d'Or was founded in 1883 by Charles Neuhaus in Schaerbeek, Belgium, a chocolate manufacturer who used the name "Côte d'Or" referring to the old name of contemporary Ghana, the source of many of the cacao beans used in chocolate manufacturing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadbury's Chocolate Factory, Tasmania</span> Confectionery factory in Tasmania, Australia

Cadbury's Chocolate Factory, also known as Cadbury's Claremont and colloquially as Cadbury's, is a prominent Australian chocolate factory situated in Claremont, Tasmania. Producing a company-record of over 60,000 tonnes of chocolate in 2021, it has earned distinction as "the largest chocolate factory in the southern hemisphere". Established in 1921, the factory and surrounding model village estate marked Cadbury's first business expansion outside the United Kingdom. The facility is currently owned by the multinational conglomerate Mondelez International, which purchased Cadbury in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Sky Beverage Company</span> Beverage company

Blue Sky Beverage Company was a beverage company that produced soft drinks and energy drinks. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Monster Beverage Corporation. The company was established in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1980, where it remained until it was purchased by Monster in 2000. Coca-Cola North America took ownership of Blue Sky Sodas, Hansen’s Juice Products, Hansen’s Natural Sodas, Hubert’s Lemonade, Peace Tea and other non-energy drink brands as part of Coke’s partnership with Monster Beverage Corp on Jun 12, 2015. Blue Sky Beverage Company now operates out of Corona, California. The southwestern look and feel of the artwork on the soda cans is reminiscent of the company's roots in New Mexico.

ConsumerLab.com, LLC. is a privately held American company registered in White Plains, NY. It is a publisher of test results on health, wellness, and nutrition products. Consumer Labs is not a laboratory, but contracts studies to outside testing laboratories. It purchases dietary supplement products and other consumer goods directly from public storefronts and online retailers, contracts for testing by private laboratories, and publishes reports based on the results. It primarily derives revenue from the sale of subscriptions to its online publications, which are paywalled. Other sources of revenue include a proprietary certification program, licensing fees, contents re-publication license fees, and advertising.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna bar</span> Brand of nutrition bars

LUNA Bars is a brand of nutrition bars created by Clif Bar & Company in 1999. The initial product introduced was one of the first energy bars primarily targeted at women. Over time, the brand has expanded to encompass a range of drinks, protein bars, and the philanthropic initiative known as LUNAFEST, a women's film festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food Empowerment Project</span> Veganism and food justice organization

Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) is a volunteer-based non-profit organization focused on veganism and food justice. Its mission statement is "to create a more just and sustainable world by recognizing the power of one's food choices." The organization was founded in 2006 by lauren Ornelas, who continues to lead it. Based in San Jose, California, the F.E.P. opened an additional chapter in Seattle, Washington, in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy</span> U.S. coalition of businesses

Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) is a coalition of businesses coordinated by Ceres whose primary goal is to call on the U.S. government to pass broad, bi-partisan energy and climate legislation. BICEP currently has 48 members.

The environmental impact of cocoa production includes deforestation, soil contamination, and herbicide resistance. The majority of cocoa farms are now located in Ivory Coast and Ghana.

Mondelez International, Inc., styled as Mondelēz International, is an American multinational confectionery, food, holding, beverage and snack food company based in Chicago. Mondelez has an annual revenue of about $26.5 billion and operates in approximately 160 countries. It ranked No. 108 in the 2021 Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organic chocolate</span>

Organic chocolate is chocolate which has been certified organic. As of 2016, it was a growing sector in the global chocolate industry. Organic chocolate is a socially desirable product for some consumers. Major brands, such as The Hershey Company, have begun to produce organic chocolate.

References

  1. ↑ "CLIF BAR & COMPANY" (PDF). fact sheet. Clif Bar & Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Mondelez to buy energy bar maker Clif Bar for about $3 billion". CNN. Reuters. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
  3. ↑ Frojo, Renee (April 24, 2013). "Clif Bar's Gary Erickson leaves CEO role". Mercury News. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  4. ↑ Riddell, Lindsay (March 2, 2012). "Gary Erickson, co-founder, co-owner and co-CEO of Clif Bar & Co". San Francisco Business Times. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  5. 1 2 Dahl, Darren Clif Bar: How a Husband-Wife Team Built a $235 Million Empire Archived 2010-06-24 at the Wayback Machine ‘’AOL Small Business’’.
  6. 1 2 Hosni, Nadia. "Triple Bottom Line: Clif Bar & Company". Fast Company/Tonic. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  7. ↑ Who We Are Archived 2010-08-25 at the Wayback Machine ClifBar.com.
  8. 1 2 Erickson, Gary and Lois Lorentzen. Raising the Bar: The Story of Clif Bar. San Francisco, CA, Jossey-Bass. 2004.
  9. ↑ From Out of the Gym, Into the Grocery Store Archived 2016-06-05 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times . November 22, 1997.
  10. ↑ Clif Bar & Company: Company Overview Bloomberg Business.
  11. ↑ "Clif Bar & Company | Press | Release | Clif Bar Company Brings Love of Outdoors Inside with New Planet Friendly He |". Archived from the original on 2011-08-05. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
  12. ↑ Kaye, Leon (May 18, 2012). "Clif Bar Celebrates Its 20th Birthday With LEED Platinum Headquarters". Triple Pundit. Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  13. ↑ . McKnight, Jenna M (January 2012). "Clif Bar Headquarters". Greensource. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
  14. ↑ A Company Fueled by Athlete's Sweat The Wall Street Journal . March 24, 2010.
  15. ↑ Breakaway Brands Offer Simple Pleasures Archived 2016-06-10 at the Wayback Machine Forbes . Oct. 8, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Cadbury owner buys US energy bar maker Clif for $2.9bn". BBC News. 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "Our Story". Clif Bar Family Foundation. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  18. 1 2 Lempert, Phil (February 9, 2012). "Sustainability Series: Clif Bar". The Lembert Report. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  19. ↑ Ted Loos (May 7, 2008), Clif Hanger, ARTINFO, archived from the original on 2008-07-04, retrieved 2008-05-14
  20. ↑ "(Website/ Products)". Clif Bar & Company. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  21. ↑ "Clif Organic Energy Food Getting New Flavors - Cold Outdoorsman". Cold Outdoorsman. 15 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2016-02-16.
  22. ↑ "The Pioneers". Inc. November 1, 2006. Archived from the original on 1 June 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  23. ↑ Al Gore congratulates Clif Bar on its biodiesel efforts Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Biodiesel Magazine. February 2007.
  24. ↑ Steverman, Ben (September 14, 2011). "Creative Employee Benefits". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
  25. ↑ Sustainability Benefits Program Archived 2010-09-22 at the Wayback Machine ClifBar.com.
  26. ↑ Aspen Skiing, Clif Bar, and Seventh Generation Strengthen BICEP Climate Coalition Archived 2010-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Climate Biz. April 16, 2009.
  27. ↑ "Mars, General Mills, Unilever, Kellogg, Nestlé Unite On Climate Action". Consumer Goods Technology. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  28. ↑ Take Action Archived 2012-03-05 at the Wayback Machine FoodIsPower.org.
  29. ↑ "Clif Bar & Company | Press | Release | Clif Bar Company Teams up with the Rainforest Alliance on Sustainable Cocoa |". Archived from the original on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  30. ↑ Clif Bar sells 20% stake to workers Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine San Francisco Business Times. June 29, 2010.
  31. ↑ How Clif Bar is Saving Retirement through CSR Archived 2016-09-10 at the Wayback Machine Triple Pundit. July 9, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Clif Bar | Best Companies to Work for | OutsideOnline.com | Best Outdoor Jobs | OutsideOnline.com". Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2014-07-09.
  33. ↑ Best Places to Work: Clif Bar and Company Archived 2010-09-05 at the Wayback Machine Outside Magazine. May 2010.
  34. ↑ Best Places to Work Archived 2010-09-19 at the Wayback Machine Outside Magazine. May 2009.
  35. ↑ The 50 Best Places to Work in America Archived 2010-08-23 at the Wayback Machine Outside Magazine. April 6, 2010
  36. ↑ Madden, Kaitlin It’s Take Your Dog to Work Day Archived 2010-08-28 at the Wayback Machine June 25, 2010.
  37. ↑ THE 30 BEST PLACES TO WORK: CLIF BAR Archived 2013-05-30 at the Wayback Machine August 12, 2012
  38. ↑ "Clif Bar's Response: A Letter to the Climbing Community". Archived from the original on 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2014-11-14.
  39. ↑ Eisenberg, Richard. "How Clif Bar Helps Employees Do Good In Retirement". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  40. ↑ Giving Back is a Key Ingredient Archived 2010-10-03 at the Wayback Machine Clif Blog.
  41. ↑ Project 2080 Archived 2010-10-03 at the Wayback Machine ClifBar.com.
  42. ↑ "In Good Company". Cliff Bar & Company. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.