by Katie Daniel, FamilyFarmed
FamilyFarmed‘s annual Giving campaign is under way, and to highlight the work we do to build a better food system, we are running a series of profiles of great businesses that have participated in our programs. Today we look at FamilyFarmed’s Good Food Accelerator through the eyes of Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pies, who graduated in April in the program’s 3rd cohort of entrepreneur Fellows.
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Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pies shows off one of her delicious products at her booth at the summer farmers market at Chicago’s downtown Daley Plaza. Maya is a 2017 graduate of FamilyFarmed’s Good Food Accelerator. Photo: Chelsea Callahan/FamilyFarmed
Maya-Camille Broussard’s Justice of the Pies specializes in sumptuous sweet and savory pies and tarts that she sells in a growing number of locations, including several Whole Foods Market stores in Chicago and the summer farmers market at Daley Plaza in The Loop. Justice of the Pies’ Thanksgiving treats were recently featured on Lou Malnati’s Tastes of Chicago e-commerce site.
She graduated in April in the third cohort of FamilyFarmed’s Good Food Accelerator, and has nothing but praise for how the program has helped her build her business. “I often tell people it felt like getting an MBA in six months, concentrating on running a food business, but everything from supply chain to marketing to investing, how to work with investors. it was extremely intense, but it was definitely beneficial for my business,” Maya said.
Maya added that the industry-leading mentors who work with the Accelerator Fellows and the direct introductions the program provides to suppliers, distributors, consultants and others in the food industry have been especially helpful.
As for the name, Stephen J. Broussard — Maya’s late father — was a criminal defense attorney whose hobby was baking pies. She created Justice of the Pies in 2014 to “celebrate his love of pies and to honor his belief that people need second chances.” Her company also partners with non-profits that provide culinary arts experiences to young people in underserved communities.
Maya-Camille Broussard of Justice of the Pies participated in the Financing Fair at FamilyFarmed’s 2017 Financing & Innovation Conference. Photo: Chelsea Callahan/FamilyFarmed
About The Accelerator
The Accelerator, also launched in 2014, provides a six-month curriculum, technical assistance, industry-leading mentors, interaction with FamilyFarmed’s broad network across the Good Food business spectrum, and connections to financiers and lenders. The 4th cohort began its Accelerator program in early November. To date, we graduated 27 Fellows over the Accelerator’s first three years, and all have reported significant benefits for their companies:
- 148% increase in full-time employees (FTEs)
- 176% increase in Markets
- 41% increase in Sales
- Collectively, entrepreneurs in the GFA network have obtained $38 million+ in debt and equity financing
