Eco-preneurs 2015
Co-Owners, Hip Chick Farms
Serafina Palandech and Jennifer Johnson are the hip chicks behind Hip Chick Farms, a company that produces all-natural, free-range, organic chicken meals sold at Whole Foods, Safeway and grocery stores across the country. The idea came about as a result of Johnson′s other job, working for a family in San Francisco as a private chef. (She has also cooked at Chez Panisse, the famed California restaurant founded by Alice Waters.) “Jen′s passion for food was combined with our belief in creating sustainable food systems,“ says Palandech. “The field chose us—natural foods are our way of life.“ The couple, who will be in Food & Wine this month, credit many mentors for their success, including folks at Amy′s Kitchen, Cowgirl Creamery and Three Twins Ice Cream. (“Everyone has been so generous with their time,“ notes Palandech.) But Palandech and Johnson are generous, too, giving back some of the money from their sales to non-profits and participating in their community whenever possible. And while they admit being a lesbian-owned business has exposed them to some discrimination, they don′t let it get in their way: “No matter what happens, we believe in our vision and our family and know that we will succeed.“ Their advice to others? “Always say yes, but never take no for an answer!“
These out entrepreneurs embrace a greener business model.
Nicole Doucet
Co-Founder and CEO, Green Sheep Water
Plastic water bottles may be convenient, but they′re not the best choice for the environment. Reusable bottles are ideal, but how many of us remember to take them along before running out for the day? Enter Green Sheep Water, the first company to solve the problem of finding environmentally friendly water on the go with a bottle created out of 100 percent recyclable aluminum. (Two other reasons Green Sheep rocks? They source their materials solely from the United States and give 5 percent of their profits back to Water.org, a non-profit that delivers clean water where it is needed.) Nicole Doucet and co-founder Jess Page came up with the idea in 2009 after watching a documentary about the environmental problem plastic poses. The product was introduced in 2014 and, soon after, began spreading like wildfire in Chicago, where it currently can be found at almost 100 retailers. The two not only want to build on that distribution, but also add some new products to the brand in the future. Those looking to build a similar kind of success would do well to follow the lessons these two have learned in their time as eco-conscious entrepreneurs: “Be patient and work with people who are smart and as passionate about the product as you are,“ says Doucet.
