Burlap & Barrel
| Company type | Public benefit corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food retail |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder | Ori Zohar, Ethan Frisch |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Guatemala, Iceland, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, United States |
| Products | Single-origin spices |
Burlap & Barrel is a U.S.-based importer of spices that focuses on sustainable, single-origin products obtained directly from farmers and gatherers. It functions as a public benefit corporation.
History
Established in 2016 by Ori Zohar and Ethan Frisch, the company has its roots in Frisch’s experience in Afghanistan in 2012 while working with Doctors Without Borders.[1][2]
During his time there, Frisch noticed a vendor manually separating cumin from chaff by tossing it into the air.[3][4] With a background in culinary arts, he purchased some cumin, found it exceptional, and introduced it to chefs he knew after returning to New York. He then partnered with Zohar, a previous business associate.[1][5]
In 2016, Frisch traveled to Zanzibar expecting to find local spice farms but was surprised to learn that most spices available were actually imported.[6][7]
The company’s name is inspired by traditional methods of packaging spices.[2]
Business model
Burlap & Barrel procures single-origin spices by working directly with farmers located in countries such as Guatemala, Iceland, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, among others.[1][8][6][5] This approach allows producers to receive a significantly higher portion of the revenue.[6] Fast Company reports that the company compensates farmers at rates ranging from five to twenty times above standard commodity prices.[2]
The business operates under the structure of a public benefit corporation.[5][2]
References
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