Crushing on Clif!

You may have seen Clif Bars in your grocery story or at your local health food store. Clif Bar makes Clif, Clif Nectar, Luna, Clif Blocks, Clif Shots and now Organic Z Bars (Clif for Kids). But Clif isn't just about whole grain goodness, they've got soul - and a story to tell. The company is one of those home grown success stories. A guy in his garage wanted to make a better mousetrap - or in this case - a better energy bar to fuel his 175-mile bike rides. That desire led founder Gary Erickson to create not only the Clif Bar, but a company built on 5 key aspirations:

- Sustaining our Planet
- Sustaining our Community
- Sustaining our People
- Sustaining our Business
- Sustaining our Brands

Along the way, Clif Bar was named one the nation's fastest-growing private companies from 1997-2000 by Inc Magazine. It's been nominated as one of the Healthiest Workplaces for Women (Health Magazine, 1993). They been given awards for doing business right - from The Greenies to the California Climate Action Champion Award. Gary himself has been presented with awards for innovation and was named one of the best bosses in America (Fortune Small Business Magazine, 2003).
Sure, I love a little whole grain goodness just as much as the next gal, but what I really love about Clif is their spirit and the fact that they've remained true to what they believe in from the start.

Read more about Clif in one of my recommended reads, Small Giants: Companies that Choose to Be Great Instead of Big