Latest news with #CertifiedBCorporation
The National
20 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Ayrshire group becomes first multi-venue firm to gain B Corp certificate
Ayrshire-based Buzzworks now joins a select group of businesses recognised for their commitment to social responsibility and sustainability. The B Corp certification comes after a successful year for the company, which saw its turnover increase 18% from £29.9 million to £34.8m in 2024. Buzzworks is also focused on expanding its portfolio, aiming to double its number of venues across various brands like Scotts, House, and Lido. Buzzworks earned its certification following an in-depth evaluation by B Lab, the nonprofit organisation behind the B Corp movement. READ MORE: Edinburgh MoonWalk 2025 to be last in capital after 19 years The company's managing director, Kenny Blair, who was instrumental in leading the business through the rigorous process, said the achievement had been one of the most challenging and rewarding processes the business had ever gone through. 'With our scale, it was no small task but we were absolutely determined to make it happen,' he said. 'At Buzzworks, we've always believed in doing the right thing for our people, through industry-leading training and development initiatives for the communities we operate in, by creating jobs and supporting local charities and for the planet. Becoming a Certified B Corporation is a major step forward in our commitment to all three. 'We are incredibly proud of this achievement. It's a testament to the collective effort of our team and the values we live by every day at Buzzworks.' Blair (above) said the company would continue to work closely with a range of charities and community partners, while also taking significant steps to address its environmental impact – including a commitment to reduce waste and energy consumption. These efforts are underpinned by ongoing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) tracking to measure Buzzworks' progress and ensure continued accountability. Blair added: 'Buzzworks has ambitious plans to double the size of the business, bringing its award-winning culture and values to even more communities. Its three core values – Care with Flair, Grow Forward Together and Value Every Voice – have shaped its B Corp journey and will continue to guide the company's future. 'Renowned for its industry-leading employee benefits, training and development, flexible working options and wellbeing initiatives, Buzzworks remains committed to being a great place to work and grow.'
Forbes
17-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Cracking The Myths: The Truth About Avian Flu, Egg Safety And What Consumers Should Know
Fears about avian influenza have moved faster than pasture-raised hens in search of the juiciest worms. The outbreak has been blamed for high egg prices and supply shortages while also raising concerns that it might not be safe to eat eggs. But consumers shouldn't have to look hard for facts. Although avian influenza is a serious disease for birds, significant safeguards are in place to make sure that eggs from infected chickens don't reach store shelves. With help from Cameron Whitehead, the chief operating officer at Pete & Gerry's, we've identified and busted five bird flu myths to help you make an informed decision when buying your next carton. Avian influenza is a contagious, viral disease that causes symptoms in birds ranging from tremors and misshapen eggs to sudden death. It's spread when chickens come into contact with infected birds or through contaminated water, feed and equipment. Although avian influenza is a serious disease for birds, significant safeguards are in place to make sure that eggs from infected chickens don't reach store shelves. In fact, the chances of it happening are 'almost zero,' Whitehead says. Farms will test their hens 'even with the slightest hint of disease,' he explains. 'And if a flock tests positive, all eggs that were created by that flock are destroyed.' Your omelet is safe. Cooking eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills viruses, including avian influenza, so go ahead and make eggs however you like them. Handling eggs is safe, too. There is no evidence that eggshells can transmit avian influenza. It is important, however, to follow recommended food handling practices that include storing eggs in the refrigerator and washing your hands and utensils with hot, soapy water after touching raw eggs. While prices for a dozen eggs have reached record highs, Pete & Gerry's has not raised the price of its premium, free-range and pasture-raised eggs in two years. This also goes for its sister brand, Nellie's Free Range Eggs. Whitehead credits the company's family farm model for providing stable prices and a reliable supply chain. The New Hampshire-based Certified B Corporation works with almost 300 family farms in 15 states to produce premium eggs, all of which are Certified Humane. The rigorous, third-party certification guarantees that hens are raised without confinement in conditions that allow them to express natural behaviors like dustbathing, perching and roaming outdoors. On commodity farms, however, chickens are housed in cages or barns with up to 400,000 birds, and each farm can have upwards of 10 barns, he explained. If a single bird is infected with avian influenza, all of the birds on site must be culled, causing egg supplies to go down dramatically and prices to go up. 'Our diversification means that, although [avian influenza] is a tragedy, any impacts have such a minimal overall supply/demand change for us,' Whitehead adds. 'Our pricing has been able to remain very stable.' On Pete & Gerry's family farms, hens roam outside where they can express natural behaviors. It's not uncommon to see empty shelves that should be filled with egg cartons — but avian influenza may be only partly to blame. While the virus has put a significant dent in the supplies of caged and cage-free eggs, causing price hikes, inflation and the increasing cost of chicken feed and other inputs have also made eggs more expensive. Since 2020, the cost to care for livestock has increased 28%, and farmers are spending more on animal feed, marketing, storage and transportation to get eggs to stores. Food inflation, meanwhile, has increased faster than historic averages. Even though Pete & Gerry's is susceptible to rising input costs and inflation like any egg producer, the company hasn't passed those costs on to consumers. Whitehead credits 'the company finding efficiencies and working hard … to make sure that we can keep costs where they are, even with the rising tide of inflation.' The availability and stable pricing of premium eggs during the outbreak has led many consumers to crack their first one. Once people see the deep orange yolks, firm egg whites and taste the superior flavor, many switch over for good. 'They feel good about what they're buying, feel good about supporting a family farm network, and they feel good about the quality of the product,' Whitehead adds. 'When you do that math, it's one of the easiest places to invest in animal welfare and support family farms.' Free-range and pasture-raised hens have access to outdoor spaces to forage for worms in the grass, take dust baths and feel the sunshine on their feathers. Access to the outdoors isn't just associated with better animal welfare; it also appears to protect chickens from avian influenza. The latest data shows that almost 100% of avian influenza outbreaks occurred at farms that housed chickens in cages or in cage-free environments while just 0.1% of outbreaks were on organic farms where chickens were raised in free-range or pasture-raised environments. 'Locking your birds into cages, into large prison-like structures, is not helping you with any of your biosecurity concerns,' Whitehead says. 'Our farmers are actually the best stewards of biosecurity because they have such a vested interest in the health of their birds and success of that flock.'
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Support ‘Made In America' Businesses—Don't Undermine Them
Suzanne Lerner is co-founder and CEO of Michael Stars, an L.A.-based fashion & lifestyle brand and Certified B Corporation founded in 1986. The ability to build something meaningful, something that creates opportunity for others, is why people say, 'only in America.' I still lead the contemporary fashion and lifestyle brand I co-founded with my late husband, Michael, and I'm proud that our company is an 'only in America' story. My husband was an immigrant from South Africa who wanted the freedom to create and build his own path. As a woman in the fashion industry, I found the doors to advancement closed. So, I built my own businesses, eventually partnering with Michael to grow Michael Stars. When policymakers talk about tariffs as 'short-term pain for long-term gain,' I wonder—have they ever run a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)? Do they understand what it takes to be a 'made in the U.S.A.' company—let alone one that has kept production in the U.S. for the past 40 years? I'm no trade policy expert, but I do know business. Since 1986, we've produced most of our clothing in Los Angeles—cutting, sewing and knitting from yarn and cotton sourced in the U.S. Some specialty yarns and fabrics we must import—not by choice, but because they're no longer available domestically. Proposed tariffs will raise costs on imported materials, creating a ripple effect: higher production costs leading to higher prices for consumers. That leaves businesses with two bad options: absorb the extra costs or raise prices without adding real value for customers. Like many purpose-driven companies, we price our products intentionally, reflecting the quality that comes with local production and ensuring that customers know they're getting real value. Tariffs disrupt that balance, forcing price increases unrelated to product value. We don't want to raise our prices just to offset the effects of poor trade policy—we want people to buy our clothing because what we make is worth it. When Michael and I started our company, we chose to produce in the U.S. because we believed (and still do) in American values—quality, community and opportunity. Over the years, we were advised to 'move everything offshore'—that manufacturing in America was a mistake. We refused. We've seen what happens when businesses prioritize short-term cost-cutting over long-term impact. That approach has ruined many fashion brands that were once known for quality. Today, we can see the effects of that approach—fast fashion filling landfills, closing of American mills and loss of skilled workers. Recent reports say that America is down to its last 100 cotton mills. Tariffs are supposed to support American businesses. But if that's the case, why do companies that have put America first in manufacturing and sourcing for decades feel like they could be caught in the crossfire of what The Wall Street Journal called the 'dumbest trade war in history'? Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, notes that, 'A 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico threatens to upend the very supply chains that have made U.S. manufacturing more competitive globally.' The ripple effects extend beyond manufacturers to consumers. The National Retail Federation estimates tariffs could strip $46 to $78 billion from consumer spending each year the tariffs are in place. Tariffs are projected to add 0.5 percentage points to inflation. If policymakers want to support 'made in the USA' companies, they have to collaborate with SME leaders on real solutions. That means investing in manufacturing infrastructure and targeting unfair competition—not making it more expensive for American businesses to operate. Now is the time for business leaders to speak out. Here are some ways to take action: • Educate your customers: Help them understand how tariffs impact pricing and business operations. Use social media and direct communication to explain why American-made goods deserve consumer support. • Engage with policymakers: Call your representatives and demand policies that truly support U.S. manufacturers. • Explore industry coalitions: If you're in fashion, organizations such as the National Retail Federation, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, United States Fashion Industry Association and Made in LA can help amplify your voice. (Disclosure: My company joined Made in LA.) • Strengthen domestic supply chains: Seek partnerships with local suppliers where possible. It won't happen overnight, but you can start now. • Share your perspective: Write op-eds, speak at industry events and use your platform to push for fair trade policies. As the shift to offshore production in fashion intensified, I remember being repeatedly told that customers didn't care where their fashion was produced. But they do. We see it firsthand. Customers tell us they come for the style but stay for the quality and for the values we represent. 'Only in America' has always meant the freedom to build something of your own. But that freedom doesn't end at starting a business—it must include the ability to grow and sustain it. If we want to honor that ethos, trade policy must strengthen—not weaken—the businesses already investing in this country. Because if 'Only in America' means anything, it should mean that businesses that build here can thrive here. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
