…what a wonderful world it would be! We had the great fortune to spend a couple days in Ann Arbor last week with the team from Zingerman’s, exploring ways we might be able to work together and learning more about the great business model they have developed.
No matter what you read about Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, nothing can really prepare you for seeing this amazing collection of businesses in action. From Zingerman’s Deli (the first Zingerman’s business, started in 1982), the next door coffee shop, to the commercial bakery, cheese production, mail order fulfillment house, the Roadhouse Restaurant, as well as cooking and business training centers, you are greeted with across the board passion and excellence every step of the way. Paul Saginaw, one of the co-founders and current partners, guided me through a day of discovery – – not only of the culinary kind, but seeing first-hand how a business can be run with employees and the community as top priorities, while being a raging success at the same time. It is no accident that what started as a deli has become a new model for local business, with over $35M in revenues and hundreds of employees, Zingerman’s is widely held up as an example local/regional business models, even touted in 2003 as the Coolest Small Company in America by Inc. Magazine.
Zingerman’s has developed a radical model of responsible business growth in concert with their guiding principles, all inspired by a commitment to the Ann Arbor and surrounding communities. We are excited to be exploring how we can bring BetterWorld’s technology and model in to help Zingerman’s and will look forward to our next trip there – – one tip, when in Ann Arbor, make sure you stop by Zingerman’s Roadhouse to see the antique RV take out window and a heaping plate of South Carolina BBQ! Thanks also to Elph Morgan, Director of Zingerman’s Intentional IT Department, who guided me through their baking, cheese, teas, and IT philosophies – I learned a ton!
For more information: www.zingermans.com
Posted in: General Blog
