Amy's Kitchen

Amy's Kitchen, Inc.

File:Amy's Kitchen logo.svg Logo used since 2018
Company type	Private
Industry	Food processing
Founded	1987 (1987) in Petaluma, California, United States
Founder	Andy Berliner, Rachel Berliner
Headquarters	Petaluma , United States
Area served	United States, United Kingdom, France, Asia, Australia
Key people	Paul Schiefer (President)
Products	Organic and non-GMO vegetarian frozen and convenience foods
Number of employees	2600+
Parent	Private family-owned company
Website	amys.com

Amy's Kitchen, Inc, operating under the trade name Amy's, is a privately owned, family-run American enterprise based in Petaluma, California. Established in 1987 by entrepreneurs Andy and Rachel Berliner and officially incorporated in 1988, the firm specializes in producing organic and non-GMO frozen and convenience foods. The brand, named after their daughter Amy, offers more than 250 vegetarian products crafted exclusively from organic ingredients. Additionally, Amy's manages three vegetarian fast food outlets in California branded as Amy's Drive Thru.

History

Andy and Rachel Berliner brought valuable expertise from the organic food sector—Rachel’s family had been cultivating organic produce since the 1950s, while Andy previously served as president and majority owner of Magic Mountain herb tea. Their initial product was a vegetable pot pie, developed following orders received from natural grocery stores after a trade exhibition. Manufacturing operations were set up in Sonoma County, California.

Since the year 2000, Amy's Scholarship Program has distributed upwards of 1,500 scholarships totaling $1.5 million to employees, supporting educational advancement as part of the company’s strategic growth initiatives.

Amy's employs more than 2,600 people across various production facilities located in Santa Rosa, California; Medford, Oregon; Pocatello, Idaho; San Jose, California; and Goshen, New York. The corporate headquarters remain situated in Petaluma.

The company actively promotes non-GMO food standards and labeling efforts and was a sponsor of Farm Aid’s annual benefit concerts between 2012 and 2014.

In May 2017, Amy's appointed Xavier Unkovic—former Mars Inc. executive and CEO of Royal Canin USA/Canada—as global president; he advanced to CEO in August 2020 but left the role in May 2021.

As a private organization, Amy’s does not publicly release financial data but reported sales exceeding $300 million in 2012 and surpassed $500 million by 2017 across markets including the U.S., U.K., France, with growing presence in Asia and Australia. Revenues reached around $600 million in 2020 amid heightened demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amy’s runs a community food assistance initiative that donates hundreds of thousands of meals annually—approximately 700,000 meals were provided during the height of COVID-19 in 2020, increasing to over 714,000 meals by 2022.

The company achieved B Corporation certification in late 2020, reflecting its dedication to social responsibility and environmental sustainability.

In 2023, Paul Schiefer was named company president following his tenure as interim president of Amy’s Drive Thru division.

Safety violations and labor relations

Amy's Kitchen encountered scrutiny concerning workplace conditions, resulting in a payment of $26,025 to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In January 2022, Cal/OSHA imposed a $6,825 fine on the Santa Rosa manufacturing site for one serious violation along with eight additional infractions related to machine safety guards and access to emergency eyewash stations; these issues were addressed within several weeks.

In 2022, allegations of union suppression were raised against the company. Employees at its San Jose facility filed complaints regarding unsafe working environments in June. By August, Amy's closed this plant citing supply chain challenges and variable consumer demand. UNITE HERE claimed that disciplinary actions against workers were connected to labor organizing efforts prior to the closure.

Products

By 2017, Amy's Kitchen had developed a portfolio exceeding 250 organic items spread across 27 distinct categories, such as burritos, bowls, pizza, wraps, soups, chili, and confections. Every product is strictly vegetarian, omitting meat, seafood, eggs, animal-derived rennet, peanuts, genetically modified components, and hydrogenated fats.

The majority of these offerings are certified Kosher, with a goal to achieve complete Kosher certification by 2020. The brand features more than 120 vegan selections alongside upwards of 130 gluten-free choices. In 2023, Amy’s expanded its lineup to include family-sized portions of popular entrees, catering to an annual customer base exceeding 14 million.

Amy's Drive Thru

Amy’s Kitchen runs three drive-thru outlets, inaugurating its first location in Rohnert Park, California on July 20, 2015. This vegetarian fast-casual concept highlights veggie burgers and includes both vegan and gluten-free menu items. In July 2019, the company added a takeout spot at San Francisco International Airport within the Harvey Milk Terminal 1. A third drive-thru was launched in Corte Madera in August 2020. Further growth saw openings in Southern California markets such as Thousand Oaks in 2023. However, the Roseville branch ceased operations permanently in early 2024.

Amy’s Drive Thru aims to capture the expanding demand for organic and plant-based fast food options by capitalizing on the company’s reputable brand and dedication to sustainable practices, setting itself apart in the competitive quick-service restaurant sector.

See also

• List of vegetarian and vegan companies