Klean Kanteen® Announces Employee Stock Ownership, New Global Headquarters and B-Corp Recertification
March 10, 2015 (Chico, Calif.) - Klean Kanteen, the leader in reusable stainless steel food and beverage solutions, is launching an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), moving its global headquarters to a larger facility in Chico, Calif., and sharing its latest B-Corporation (B-Corp) impact assessment score of 99 points, up 20 percent from its 2012 certification numbers.
“Over the years, our employees have become—and always will be—an extension of our family,” explains Michelle Kalberer, Co-Owner of Klean Kanteen. “Creating an ESOP program just made sense for us because it ensures we can retain employees who are invested in the mission, vision and overall benefit that Klean provides the world, and our local community.”
“We recently celebrated our ten year anniversary, and are now sharing the growth and prosperity of Klean’s future with all of the employees making it happen,” comments Jim Osgood, President and CEO.
Later this spring, Klean will be moving across town to its new headquarters. “We couldn’t be more excited to have our offices and distribution center under one roof, and create a space where we’ll be able to celebrate with our customers, partners, community friends, and family—a space that our employees feel good walking into every day,” states Jeff Cresswell, Co-Owner.
With supporting local business and craftsmen as a key goal for the build, Klean sourced most of the materials and finishes from within a 200 mile radius of Chico. Complete with doors, desks, and interior accents crafted from fallen walnut trees and harvested from local farms, the 50,340 square foot building will house the company’s business offices, co-brand print shop, distribution center and a community gathering space. Just a few miles from downtown Chico, the new building is accessible via public transport and bike paths, and sits adjacent to public open space.
With an impact assessment score of 99 (out of 200) Klean Kanteen continues to be a prominent part of the 1,200 member strong B-Corp movement. Originally certified as a B-Corp in 2012, Klean Kanteen and its employees recognize that the assessment is an invaluable tool to measure improvement around key company goals. For Klean, these include conducting product lifecycle assessments, incorporating social and environmental metrics into performance assessments and reporting, and collectively contributing over 430 volunteer hours to local and national non-profits and organizations.