Three Vermont B Corps Join VBSR’s Champion Members

Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility is proud to welcome New Chapter, King Arthur Flour & Vermont Creamery as newest Champion Members

The Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) Board of Directors is pleased to announce New Chapter, King Arthur Flour & Vermont Creamery have become VBSR’s newest Champion Members.  “VBSR recognizes these three companies as exemplary in terms of their commitment to social responsibility, environmental sustainability, workplace quality mission-oriented governance & public policy activism, said Jane Campbell, VBSR’s executive director.  “The support of sustaining Champion Member’s is particularly key to advancing VBSR’s mission to foster a business ethic that recognizes the responsibility of the business community to set a high standard for protecting the natural, human, and economic environments of Vermont’s citizens.”

As one of the first US Vitamin and supplement companies to achieve B Corp Certification in the US, New Chapter has incorporated social & environmental efforts into day-to-day operations since its inception, earning them B Lab’s Best for the World: Changemakers two years in a row.

“New Chapter has long been working toward an organic, sustainable world. Using our business as a force for good, we were pioneers in both the Organic and Non-GMO movements,” said Amerigo Pennoni, Asst. Director of QA Compliance/Risk & Sustainability,“We firmly believe that our market economy is one of the most effective tools we have as a society to shift the needle and drive positive change.” 

Vermont Creamery, producer of artisan cheese & butter, is a change-making force with its commitment to caring for their farmers, customers, community and environment.  Their pledged obligation to positively impacting the lives of their employees and families is put into action by providing a strong wage and benefit package, including production positions wages starting at $16.50 per hour, with plans to increase that wage.  The employees volunteer their time at several local organizations, primarily Vermont Creamery’s neighborhood nonprofit, the Vermont Foodbank; they also help to select nonprofit recipients for year-end donations.

“Vermont Creamery has long been a supporter of VBSR, and we are proud to elevate our support to the Champion Member level because we believe in the work the organization does and its impact in the state of Vermont,” said Adeline Druart, president of Vermont Creamery. “We are committed to partnering to support the triple bottom line approach to business in Vermont.”

King Arthur Flour believes baking has the power to make a difference for their employees, community & planet.  The 100% employee-owned, B Corp pays all workers a fair and competitive wage and offers robust retirement benefits, while also fostering a culture of health and wellness, community engagement, and celebration. Their national program, Bake for Good Kids, is a great example of this culture, teaching children across the country how to bake bread from scratch and then giving the bread to those in need in their community.

“We’re proud to be part of the VBSR community alongside so many other great Vermont companies committed to making a positive impact on the environment, our communities, and our people,” said Karen Colberg, Co-CEO of King Arthur Flour.

To learn more about VBSR’s policy work, upcoming events, staff and board, or how to become a member please visit vbsr.org.