from knowing he and his co-workers
are helping the people of the Amazon
while bringing health and nutrition to
customers around the world without
causing damage to the rain forest—all
while turning a healthy profit for his
stakeholders. Sambazon may cite its
triple bottom line, but count that up
and it seems more like a quadruple. C
Ryan Black (left) and
Travis Baumgardner
have surmounted
many obstacles,
including this mountain of açaí seeds, in
their drive to bring
Amazonian superfoods to the world.
© SURYA ALI ZAIDAN / AGE FO TOS TOCK
supplier profile
world. The facility rests along an inlet
of the Amazon River in a modern
building in Santana, a village on the
outskirts of Macapá, situated at the
mouth of the river’s delta—a frontierlike community that brings to mind
an Indiana Jones movie. (The city’s
claim to fame is that the equator
passes right through it.)
“With the idea of becoming a permanent and positive force in the
Amazon, we brought gold standards
and integrity to an industry and region
laden with poverty. People were taking
advantage of each other, [people]
who, along with the rain forest, were
suffering,” Ryan Black, now CEO of
Sambazon, says. “What we have helped
make happen is a sustainable win for
the people and for the rain forest.”
Everybody wins
The win for the people is boosted
further by Sambazon’s commitment
to improving the lives of not just the
factors with hugs, kisses and laughter.
Other company projects have included
the rehabilitation of a community cen-
ter in a village upriver and a program
that helps local women in a coopera-
tive profit from creating jewelry out of
the seeds that are a byproduct of the
açaí production process.
Name: Sambazon Origin of name: SAving and Managing the BrAzilian AmaZON Founders: Ryan and Jeremy Black, Edmund Nichols Employees: 200 Address: 1160 Calle Cordillera, San Clemente, CA 92673 Phone: 1-877-726-2296 Web site:
www.sambazon.com Products at Costco: Sambazon’s organic açaí and other Amazon superfood juices are available nation- wide in the chilled section of Costco warehouses. Frozen açaí pulp for açaí bowls and smoothies is available in the frozen section next to blueberries at select Costco warehouses. Comments about Costco: “Costco shares Sambazon’s earnest commitment to social and environmental well-being. Together we are making positive change in the world, and for that we are most grateful.” —Ryan Black, CEO
