Granola Toting Hippie is Now a Mainstream Foodie El Cerrito Natural Grocery Co., 10367 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito (510) 526-1155 Naturalgrocery.com By Long before organic and natural foods became a standard in practically every grocery store, or before clean eating was something mainstream individuals struggled to achieve, Bob Gerner, founder and general manager of The Natural Grocery Company, knew that these were the foods that were best for our bodies as well as the planet and has been a local leader in the natural foods movement for more than 45 years. “The basic belief that I have is that the country—the world—will be better if we put less poisonous chemicals into the ground, the water, the air and our bodies,” he shared. “I want all foods to be organic.” Stepping into Sacramento Real Foods as a young man in 1969, this was Gerner’s first introduction to the health food movement. He said he was quickly converted and never looked back. Shortly after this initial encounter he became a partner in the Natural Food Works in Davis. Realizing that he did not want to be one of ten partners, he opened his own 28 MARKETPLACEcontracosta.com june 2016 store where he focused on manufacturing the natural foods he wanted but didn’t find being made. “When I opened Westbrae Natural Foods in 1971 in Berkeley I hadn’t planned on having a retail store,” he shared. “We first opened as a granola factory cause that’s what I was making at the University at Davis.” Due to zoning for his building, Gerner was forced to have a retail space. “We opened the first twelve feet for retail and the back was for manufacturing and warehousing,” he said. Between manufacturing in-house and using co-packers, the wholesale portion of his business grew rapidly. Gerner and his crew were making everything from fruit juices and jams, toasted nuts and nut butters to breads and granola, and were bringing ingredients to local producers for them to make things such as mustards, Italian pasta, mayonnaise and Chinese noodles. Even with all the variety of products being offered, Jeannie Howard
Contra Costa Marketplace - June 2016
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