Meet Accelerator Grad Maya Broussard And Her Justice Of The Pies

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.

All contributions, however large or small, help us advance our Good Food goals and support the businesses and farmers who produce the Good Food we all love! Click here to support FamilyFarmed’s “Birthday Challenge,” or click here to find out how your Giving Tuesday Contribution can have a direct impact on the Good Food ecosystem. [Note: The Birthday Fundraising Faceoff has concluded, with more than $2,000 raised in four days. Many thanks to all who contributed! Our Annual Appeal campaign continues with Giving Tuesday.]

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. 

FamilyFarmed

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
Nearly half of the GFA Fellows so far have been minority-owned businesses, nearly half are women-owned, and several — including Justice of the Pies — have stated social missions. At FamilyFarmed, we believe Good Food is:
 
1. Delicious, healthy food, accessible to all, produced as close to home as possible by family farmers and producers who use sustainable, humane and fair practices. 2. A fast-growing movement creating vast numbers of jobs and economic development by providing people with food that matches their values
Contribute today to support programs such as our Good Food Accelerator at http://www.familyfarmed.org/donate/.
 
Support from Good Foodies like you helps realize our vision of Good Food on Every Table — we can’t do it without you!

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