Back to the Roots Named To Fast Company’s Annual List Of The World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019
Oakland, Calif. (February 20, 2019) – Back to the Roots has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019 (read the full article here).
The list honors the businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture, showcasing a variety of ways to thrive in today’s volatile world. Half of the companies on this year’s MIC 50 list are appearing for the first time.
“We are humbled and honored to be part of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies List – it’s an inspiring group of incredible companies dedicated to bettering the world through innovation,” says Co-founders & Co-CEOs of Back to the Roots, Nikhil Arora and Alejandro Velez. “We have an audacious mission of trying to reconnect this next generation back to where their food comes from through our organic ready-to-grow gardening kits and ready-to-eat cereals. We hope to help every family and kid experience the magic and wonder of growing their own food!”
Arora and Velez discovered their passion for urban farming and organic food while attending UC Berkeley. What started out as a classroom experiment has turned into a national movement and new consumer category. In 2018 alone, Back to the Roots contracted a game-changing licensing deal with Nature’s Path to bring its cereals to every school in America (Back to the Roots cereals were the first organic cereal ever offered in US Public Schools), partnered with best-selling cookbook author and entrepreneur Ayesha Curry, and launched its line of gardening kits nationwide in 5000 new retail doors, including The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Whole Foods and many more. Back to the Roots plans on helping families build 1,000,000 new organic gardens in 2019.
Back to the Roots is accompanied by industry titans like Apple, Disney and Target, among other rising stars like Peloton, Sweetgreen and thredUP also named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2019.
This year, Fast Company’s editors and writers sought out groundbreaking businesses across 35 industries and every region. They also judged nominations received through their application process.
The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.
“Established players are showing the same kind of nimbleness that we’ve generally associated with startups,” said Fast Company deputy editor David Lidsky, who oversaw the issue with senior editor Amy Farley.
Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March-April 2019) is now available online at https://www.fastcompany.com/MIC, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands beginning February 27th. The hashtag is #fcmostinnovative
ABOUT BACK TO THE ROOTS
Founded in 2009, Back to the Roots is based in Oakland, CA and is an organic food & gardening company. The company is on a mission to “undo food” and reconnect families back to where it comes from through its award-winning line of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals and ready-to-grow indoor gardening kits. Back to the Roots products are distributed in national retailers including The Home Depot, Target, Lowe’s, Whole Foods, and the NYC Public School System where it helps feed 1.1M kids per day as the first organic cereal ever offered in US Public Schools. It’s products include the Water Garden, a home aquaponic ecosystem, Mushroom Grow Kits, and a range of windowsill herb & veggie planters for schools and homes. For more information, please visit: www.BacktotheRoots.com
ABOUT FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies and thinkers on the future of business. Since 2011, Fast Company has received some of the most prestigious editorial and design accolades, including the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) National Magazine Award for “Magazine Of The Year,” Adweek’s Hot List for “Hottest Business Publication,” and six gold medals and 10 silver medals from the Society of Publication Designers. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta and the publisher is Amanda Smith. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Ashley Tom
The Rose Group
ashley@therosegrp.com
