Who is Behind Your Green Snack?
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 04.16.08
They are the companies you love to hate, purveyors of overly packaged processed foods, the Top 30 food processors in North America.
Or are they? Companies like Kraft, Pepsi and General Mills have joined the new wave of start-ups and stand-bys serving the growing market of informed consumers who want better, greener food. Due to complex or shadowy relationships, or simply because no one can keep up with mergers and acquisitions, you may react as one TreeHugger staffer did: "I must admit to be a little bummed learning about Seeds of Change and Dagoba."
Before you can decide whether the big boys joining the trend is the start of a new era or the beginning of the end, you need to at least know who has their fingers in which pot. Thanks to the good folks at GOOD magazine, there is now a quick reference guide in graphical format for an easy overview. Do you want to know who is behind Seeds of Change or Dagoba or 28 other organic brands?
Yep, that's right. M&M Mars and Hershey are behind Seeds of Change and Dagoba, respectively. Can a chocoholic safely buy these goodies, knowing they are sending the right message back to the marketers? Or are they playing party to an evil ploy to mask the bulk of the business-as-usual behind a thin sheen of green?
Frederick Schilling, the founder of Dagoba, is quoted (in David Lebovitz's blog) after he sold Dagoba to Hershey: "I feel this was the right move to continue to make the impact I want to make."
The 3 biggest food processors which have joined the race to be perceived as organic are Kraft, Pepsi and General Mills. Kraft acquired the vegan oriented Boca in 2000 and Organic Milling Inc.'s Back to Nature cereal and granola business in 2003. Pepsi stepped into Naked Juice in 2006. General Mills inherited both Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen with the acquisition of Small Planet Foods in 1999.
Heinz, only 27th in overall ranking for food processing, is behind the largest number of organic brands, due to their strategic alliance with Hain Celestial. Rounding out the "green" members of the top 30 food processors are: Dean, Conagra, Cadbury Schweppes, Kellogg and (of course) Coca-cola.
To see the complete graphic, check out the original Buying Organic graphic at GOOD magazine.
Via ::Kelso Cartography
Link at Planet Green: Know Your Organic Food Brands
Ifn ye all check out indoor gardening, you won't have to worry none bout all this stuff, which scrares the pea picking hairs of me chinny chin chin to death a thankin about. Remember, ifn ye grow it yeself, IN THE HOUSE, no acid rain, no wisps of pesticides from ye nebors, and no bird poop from the sky. Indoor gardening of all types is the personal answer to your worries on all your perishable green vegetation ye need to consume.
Ye all have a great day, and thank ye fer a letting me give ye my two cents worth, which mite be all its worth, but maybe not.
Snuffy Snodgrass
Does anyone know the relationship between "Seeds of Change" the organic seed company, and "Seeds of Change" the purveyor of mediocre organic frozen meals? The logo is identical, so they must be related in some way. Does the seed company license the name to M&M/Mars to produce TV dinners, or does M&M/Mars own the whole deal?
Maybe it's time to compile a list of fairly common "green" food brands that AREN'T owned by a huge corporation with the opposite agenda. While selling out to Pepsi or ConAgra makes organic products more easily available, many of us who buy organic choose to do so in order to AVOID supporting big business. I'm glad that organic farmers can find steady employment, but it's still very frustrating that the same few CEOs tend to profit the most. Buying up an independent green business is greenwashing.
Keep in mind, organic here means industrial organic, not small-scale, local, problem-solving organic.
I'm bummed about Dagoba as well. They are down the street from me, but the "local" appeal has waned since the acquisition. However, nothing at the factory or inside the wrapper has changed. It's just a bummer that another successful start-up has been swallowed by a giant. Fred's comment was regarding Dagoba's distribution and the ability to remain a competitive buyer of sustainable/organic/freetrade cacao - as the giants are starting to buy up the supply.
I'm bummed about Dagoba as well. They are down the street from me, but the "local" appeal has waned since the acquisition. However, nothing at the factory or inside the wrapper has changed. It's just a bummer that another successful start-up has been swallowed by a giant. Fred's comment was regarding Dagoba's distribution and the ability to remain a competitive buyer of sustainable/organic/freetrade cacao - as the giants are starting to buy up the supply.
Yet another area where buying local ensures that I know exactly what goes into my body...
I would love to have a list of "green" food brands that aren't owned by a huge corporation with the opposite agenda - BUT if anyone posted a list like that on the web wouldn't that also be a list for those same corporations to shop from (for new companies for them to buy out)? They have also been buying out the bath products like Tom's of Maine (now owned by Colgate) and Burt's Bee's (I forget which one bought them). Makes it difficult to boycott these companies who conduct animal testing too.
There is a chart of indepentant food companies on the following link:
http://www.certifiedorganic.bc.ca/rcbtoa/services/corporate-independent-brands.html
Regarding Scott's question, Seeds of Change, both the seed saving organisation and the food company are owned by Mars.
I also heard that Coca Cola owns Odwalla and Clorox owns Burt's Bees. WTF?
I believe that the best thing we can do to promote change is to keep taking those baby steps that people all over the world are still skeptical of doing. I mean, I have friends and family in Texas who didn't give a shit about recycling until I was fortunate enough to bring things to their attention.
In a country that is conditioned towards laziness and wastefulness, it's up to the enlightened to make the change. Talk to people you guys, tell all of your friends and make sure they know how important it is to start making changes.
Don't assume they are reading the same material you are. Internet communities are a little above the game. The vast majority of people probably only hop on to check email. Make sure you talk to people in the real world too.
Keep spreading the word!
I also heard that Coca Cola owns Odwalla and Clorox owns Burt's Bees. WTF?
I believe that the best thing we can do to promote change is to keep taking those baby steps that people all over the world are still skeptical of doing. I mean, I have friends and family in Texas who didn't give a shit about recycling until I was fortunate enough to bring things to their attention.
In a country that is conditioned towards laziness and wastefulness, it's up to the enlightened to make the change. Talk to people you guys, tell all of your friends and make sure they know how important it is to start making changes.
Don't assume they are reading the same material you are. Internet communities are a little above the game. The vast majority of people probably only hop on to check email. Make sure you talk to people in the real world too.
Keep spreading the word!