Money Date With Homefree
/Every Friday I recommend having a money date…with a mimosa. Hence the name of my blog, Money & Mimosas.
Your money date is your special time to review your finances, celebrate your wins, and reflect on how you used your money to make a difference. Feel free to do it alone or with your money buddy. If you’d like a step-by-step guide for your money date, click here to download your free checklist.
In these money date articles, Money & Mimosas features small to medium-sized businesses that are aligned with our values. This week we’re featuring, Homefree. An allergy-friendly, gluten-free, socially conscious bakery brand. Keep reading to learn more about them and their founder, Jill Robbins.
Jill Robbins, founder of Homefree
What inspired the creation of your business?
My son is one of the 32 million Americans with food allergies. We were managing with his allergies to dairy, eggs, soy and more. But then he became allergic to nuts and peanuts, and his allergist strongly advised that we never feed him anything made in shared facilities. When I raised questions, the allergist showed me research showing 6.5% clinically significant cross-contamination in shared facilities. I was convinced, but it ruled out pretty much all baked treats. As a mom and clinical psychologist, I wished for delicious treats he could eat, right along with everyone else. So I created “one cookie for all!” Delicious for everyone, wholesome for everyone, and inclusive of people with most special diets. Nut free, vegan, kosher pareve, gluten free, no rice, no sesame, and more.
What does your business do to stay socially conscious?
We are actually a certified B Corporation, which means we have an exceptionally high standard for environmental stewardship and social responsibility. That includes that our cookie boxes are made using wind power, and our many donations include to front line hospital workers and to special diet sections of food pantries.
Why is it important for those with allergies to have safe cookies to snack on?
It is important both for physical safety and for emotional well-being:
For physical safety, a food allergen trace smaller than you can see can be life threatening. And a mild reaction one time doesn’t always predict the level of reaction the next time. So it’s very serious. Yet everyone wants to be able to enjoy treats. Safe cookies makes that possible without risk taking. Our tag line is “Treats you can trust” because we are an industry leader for allergen-related safety, as well as for food quality and safety more generally. And if you think of safety more widely, as something that is good for your health, we aim to achieve that as well. Our cookies are non-GMO and some are also certified organic. All are certified a good source of whole grain. And some are so healthy that they are USDA Smart Snacks!
With regard to emotional well-being, it’s about feeling included. Social occasions usually revolve around baked treats made with common food allergens like eggs, butter and wheat, or nuts, or made in a facility with nuts, and therefore that typically are off limits to people with special diets. Yet everyone wants to be part of the group, and everyone wants to have a good time. With safe, inclusive treats, you’re “home free.” You don’t have to worry because everything has been taken care of, so you can be carefree. And especially for a child, but really for anyone, it is a great feeling to know that the host thinks you are important enough to have made the effort to include you. Everyone can enjoy the gathering together.
What advice would you give other business owners in the food industry that want to become allergy-friendly?
Whether for manufacturers or for businesses that feed people, you need to determine at what standard you wish to achieve this, and then educate your customers about whatever that is. Because our company is all about allergen safety, that is central to all of our decision making. For example, we have our own dedicated baking facility so we have full control over every part of the manufacturing process, whereas it’s more practical for most food companies to have their products made by co-packers that make multiple products for multiple companies, some of which may use allergens. We source our ingredients with care, and despite that, we also allergen test them. Our staff even wear our uniforms and shoes, which we wash in-house, to avoid traces of allergens. Even though such practices may not be viable for most businesses, anyone can still make an effort toward being allergy-friendly. For example, avoiding having nuts or peanuts in dishes on a menu makes your restaurant much safer for, and welcoming to, families with these allergies. Or if you have a business with Grab & Go options, you can include products like Homefree cookies, so that everyone can purchase a treat. Because the majority of serious allergic reactions are to sauces and desserts, you can have the most impact by using care in those categories. And if you do make an effort, let your customers know that you have done so! They will appreciate it, and they’ll spread the word.
What advice would you give other female entrepreneurs thinking about starting their own business?
Do something about which you have passion. That way, the endless hours of work don’t feel like work. Rather, it is just spending time on something that matters.
