BlueBud: How JetBlue Is Helping 'the United Nations of Bread' Get Off the Ground
Originally posted on Sustainable Brands
This summer, JetBlue announced New York City-based Hot Bread Kitchen — a social enterprise that builds lasting economic security for foreign-born and low-income women by introducing them to professional opportunities in the culinary industry - as the first winner of its “BlueBud" business mentoring program.
JetBlue says the bakery will receive mentorship, special access to the airline’s business leaders, the airline’s unique product development culture, and valuable industry insights, along with a unique opportunity to get its bakery and products into the aviation space. Guided by the airline’s mission of inspiring humanity, BlueBud was designed as a way for JetBlue to connect with diverse suppliers, starting with environmentally and socially responsible food companies and startups. Applicants for the first BlueBud program included small food companies that are creating unique and novel concepts.
Hot Bread Kitchen works to create pathways to employment for women from diverse backgrounds. The partnership will ideally increase exposure for the bakery, ultimately impacting profits. JetBlue’s Head of Sustainability, Sophia Mendelsohn, caught up with founder Jessamyn Rodriguez to find out more about Hot Bread Kitchen’s mission and impacts.
