Hummus or hommus lovers know that grocery store brands usually fail the homemade test. They often taste sour, a result of the preservatives needed to increase shelf-life. As someone who tries to make more and better food at home, I started skipping the hommus shelf until I purchased a tub of Cedar’s lemon hommos. As a world traveler and one who has been to Lebanon, I was shocked to discover how good the brand tasted. Today, Cedar’s hommus is one of the few store-bought packaged items I’ll allow in my cart.
However, as the recent founder of sustainability publication Azure Road, I’m also concerned about the impact my purchases make on the environment, local communities, and the employees who produce these products. So, my curiosity was piqued when I read about the extensive community initiatives and charity work being done by Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods. I reached out to learn more for a possible business profile and discovered just how deep their community work goes.
The Origins: From Family Recipe to National Brand
Cedar’s Foods is a prominent player in the Mediterranean food market, founded by Layla and Ibrahim “Abe” Hanna. The company began as a small family business and has grown into a nationally recognized brand, known for its authentic products and strong commitment to community involvement. Charles Hanna, the founders’ son, now leads the company, maintaining its focus on quality and innovation while expanding its reach.
Cedar’s Foods started in 1981 when the Hanna family moved to the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts. Missing the hommus they were accustomed to in Lebanon, Layla Hanna began making it using her family’s recipe. Recognizing an opportunity, she and her husband Abe started producing hommus, taboule, and baba ghannouj in their kitchen, selling these products to local supermarkets.
Charles Hanna, CEO of Cedar’s Mediterranean Foods.
Their breakthrough came when Market Basket, a regional supermarket chain, began carrying their products. This partnership enabled Cedar’s Foods to expand rapidly. By 1984, the company was officially established, and it has since grown, maintaining a focus on authentic Mediterranean flavors and high-quality ingredients.
Today, Cedar’s Foods operates from its headquarters in Haverhill, Massachusetts, with facilities covering more than 500,000 square feet and employing over 1,000 people. The company produces over 145 million pounds of product annually, including 120 million pounds of hommus. Cedar’s manufacturing facilities are SQF Level 3 certified, ensuring high standards of food safety. The company’s products carry certifications including Kosher (OU), Gluten-Free, Vegan, USDA Organic, and Non-GMO Project Verification.
Charles Hanna’s Leadership and Vision
Charles Hanna, who grew up immersed in the family business, took over as CEO in the 1990s. His leadership has been pivotal in scaling Cedar’s Foods from a regional operation to a national brand. Charles’s approach is rooted in a deep respect for his family’s legacy and a forward-thinking vision that balances innovation with tradition. Under his guidance, Cedar’s Foods expanded its operations, secured national accounts, and broadened its product offerings, all while staying true to the family’s original recipes.
One of the key factors that sets Cedar’s Foods apart is its commitment to authenticity. The company’s flagship product, hommus, continues to be made using the Hanna family’s original recipe, which has been passed down through generations. This dedication to preserving the traditional taste and quality of its products has earned Cedar’s a loyal customer base (including this writer.)
Cedar’s with Heart initiative has helped thousands of families in the surrounding community.
Community Engagement: The Cedar’s with Heart Initiative
While Cedar’s Foods has achieved significant success in the food industry, it is also distinguished by its commitment to community engagement. This commitment, which began with the company’s founders, has been formalized and expanded under Charles Hanna’s leadership. Recognizing the importance of giving back to the community that supported their early growth, the Hannas have always integrated a strong sense of social responsibility into their business ethos.
In 2010, Cedar’s Foods took its community efforts to the next level by officially partnering with local organizations to tackle food insecurity and support enrichment programs. These partnerships laid the groundwork for the Cedar’s with Heart initiative, launched in 2020. This initiative represents the company’s dedication to making a positive societal impact through charitable activities and community support.
This popular grocery store brand has a heart warming backstory.
Cedar’s with Heart: Impact and Initiatives
The Cedar’s with Heart initiative reflects the company’s core values, which emphasizes employee care, consumer engagement, and community support. Since its inception, Cedar’s with Heart has donated over $2,000,000 and provided meals and assistance to more than 50,000 individuals. The initiative addresses food insecurity by supporting local programs.
For example, Cedar’s has given long standing support to the YMCA of the North Shore in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Since 2010, Cedar’s Foods has donated $123,500 to support the YMCA’s Backpack Foods Program, which provides nutritious food for families in need over the weekend, resulting in funding over 20,000 backpacks of food for children. Cedar’s Foods’ also partners with The Granite YMCA. Over the past five years, Cedar’s has donated $10,000 and provided product contributions to support over 3,000 families through annual campaigns and childcare programs.
Another significant partnership has been with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salem and Greater Haverhill. Since 2018, Cedar’s has provided over 21,000 snacks and 5,600 meals to members, while donating $95,000 to date.
Cedar’s delivering food to families in the community.
In Greater Haverhill, the company supports the Club’s food program, which provides over 20,000 meals annually to low-income youth. Given its Mediterranean roots, Cedar’s also believes children should learn healthy eating and cooking habits early in life. As such, the company has contributed $100,000 to the “Kids in the Kitchen” educational cooking program, which has helped feed 1,000 children annually, impacting over 10,000 children throughout the partnership. Cedar’s support earned it the “Business Champion for Youth” award in 2022.
Underserved single mothers living with metastatic breast cancer have also benefited from the support of Cedar’s.Through its partnership with nonprofit organization Infinite Strength, Cedar’s has contributed $20,000 for housing and groceries to families affected by this condition since 2022.
Finally, the charitable arm of Cedar’s extends to the culinary program of L’Arche Boston North, which benefits adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cedar’s has donated around $35,000 in monetary support, as well as $30,000 in product contributions, enabling L’Arche to increase its capacity and grow its program.
So, the next time you pick up a package of Cedar’s lemon hommus at the grocery store, know that you’re not just enjoying a tasty product—you’re also supporting community initiatives far and wide.