Once Again Nut Butter

Once Again Nut Butter is a 100% employee-owned, democratic ESOP that produces peanut, almond, and cashew butters, honey, and a variety of other products from the town of...

Once Again Nut Butter is a 100% employee-owned, democratic ESOP that produces peanut, almond, and cashew butters, honey, and a variety of other products from the town of Nunda in Western New York.  Once Again has been democratically operated for 35 years, has 30 employee-owners,  and had revenues of $14 million in 2007.  The company operates on a 1 member, 1 vote sytem, distributes profit shares equally to all owners, and has a 3.5 to 1 compensation ratio of highest to lowest paid employees. 

The business has always been at the forefront of producing organic foods, and is active in the fair trade  and cooperative movements.  Members sit on the board of the Domestic Fair Trade Association with members of Equal Exchange, Organic Valley, the Cooperative Fund of New England, The Olympia Food Coop, Seward Coop, and others.  One of the founders, Jeremy Thaler, helped to organize the 2007 Eastern Conference for Workplace Democracy in North Carolina. Once Again has a history of supporting international fair trade, buying sesame seeds and honey from farm cooperatives established by Jubilee House in Nicaragua (as well as sourcing honey from local New York beekeepers)  The company has made significant donations to and trade relationships with Jubilee House’s sewing cooperatives. 

 

The business is one of the largest almond butter producers in the world, and has ingredient accounts for major companies such as General Mills for its Nature’s Valley granola bars and formerly for Ben and Jerry’s “Wavy Gravy” ice cream.  In 2011 they were named Best Peanut Butter by Men’s Health Magazine.

Tags: 

In this article


Join the Conversation