Clif Bars
Berkeley, CA
Named one of the fastest growing private companies in the US by Inc. magazine, Cilff Bar Inc. has been expanding steadily since its beginning in 1997. Founder and CEO, Gary Erickson is whole-heartedly committed to making the world "a better place to live, work and eat." The Clif bar was first conceived of when Erickson, a professional bike saddle designer, baker and competitive cyclist realized one day after a long bike trip, in 1990 that there was no good tasting, easy to digest, all-natural, high-energy bar available on the market. As an avid baker, Gary took it upon himself to create such a bar. He sold the bar at Kali's Bakery in San Francisco for 5 years until, due to the bars popularity, Gary decided it was time to give it a name and begin manufacturing it for the retail market. He named the bar after his father, Clifford with whom he had first gained his appreciation for outdoor activities.
Clif Bar Inc. sponsors hundreds of non-profit organizations and charitable events. The employees at Clif Bar Inc. are provided with indoor climbing walls, a complete work out facility, personal trainers, camping and skiing trips and volunteer opportunities on company time. In 2001, the Clif Bar employees committed to working 2080 hours of community service on company time.