Lynn Gordon, a pioneer in the natural food industry, began her journey towards promoting health, wellness and environmentalism as a Kushi Institute certified macrobiotic cooking teacher consulting with individuals with terminal Illness in the early 80’s.  

 

In 1985 Gordon founded the  Minneapolis based,  French Meadow Bakery.  French Meadow Bakery is the oldest continuously certified organic bakery in the United States, which at the time it was sold in2006, was distributed in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and eastern Canada. Lynn’s landmark café on Lyndale remains under her ownership along with French Meadow Café on Grand Avenue in St Paul.

 

Since the founding of French Meadow Bakery, Lynn, has proven to be a quentisential  entrepreneur, with a string of business successes.  These include the Isle Bun & Coffee Company , sold to its management  in 2000 and the revival of Seattle base Rainier Natural Foods. The original sprouted Ezekiel 4:9 bakery sold in 2003 to Food For Life, one of the country’s leading natural foods companies.  

 

In 2005 Lynn took the French Meadow café concept into a new realm by partnering with HMS Host to open the first natural/organic restaurant in a North American airport.  The first café opened in Minneapolis, and now there are airport French Meadows in Milwaukee, Salt Lake City and Atlanta.  In addition the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, operates two on campus and recently opened one at the University of Minnesota campus .

This string of successes did not go unnoticed as Lynn was named Minnesota’s SBA Business Person of the year in 2005 and in 2008 received the, “Proggy” , PETA’s national award for pioneering vegetarian food the  country’s airports In 2013.  In 2013 Lynn was the recipient of NAWBO (National ASSN. of Women Business Owners) Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

Ms. Gordon’s newest companies include People Organic Coffee & Wine Cafés founded in 2010 as a natural foods café concept.  There are six POC’s now in operation in Minnesota and Massachusetts.  In 2011 GREEN A Natural Living Store opened in the Detroit Airport.   In 2007 Lynn created Pura Vida and Baby Vida organic body wash, hair wash and natural wipes sold currently at GREEN in Detroit.   

 

Currently Lynn is partnering with friend Jennifer Andler to open Salon Green, a natural lash and hair salon in 2017.
 

Lynn has also been a trailblazer in the promotion of social justice and eco sustainability, served as a board member for the Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and The Hemp Industries Association. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of Climate Generation, a Will Steger Legacy.  Her lifelong passion has been to create companies that have a positive impact socially and environmentally and Ms. Gordon has done this with great success.