“We know that it can be challenging for women to find satisfying work in what is still a male-dominated industry. So as women (and now as moms of girls), we love the idea of helping other women achieve their career dreams, too. We feel like Hot Bread Kitchen allows us to give back in a way that mutually helps us both!”
Alana Campbell, Co-Founder of Campbell & Co.
Campbell & Co. is a family-run café, grocery, cheese shop, and catering company with locations in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Founded in 2013 by two Southern sisters, Alana and Erin Campbell, their goal is to bring a little small-town hospitality to the big city, with a greater mission of maintaining a thriving small business that supports other small makers and farmers, all the while providing a meaningful living to their dedicated staff.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the team at Campbell & Co. has found that it has become even more challenging to find good staff and keep them. Co-Founder Alana said, “If we place an ad on something like Craigslist, we have to sort through dozens and dozens of candidates who may or may not have the right skillset.” Partnering with Hot Bread Kitchen has offered a solution to this problem. Co-founder Alana continued, “Hot Bread Kitchen has made it so much easier to find the kind of employees we need. Their trainees are dedicated and hard-working– and they appreciate finding us as much as we appreciate finding them.”
“The greatest quality that Hot Bread Kitchen alumni bring with them is that they truly want to be cooking. This is not just a paycheck for them! They have a passion for hospitality; they are so eager to learn new techniques; they always take feedback with grace and maturity; and they have such a wonderful team player attitude towards this industry.”
Alana Campbell, Co-Founder of Campbell & Co.
Hot Bread Kitchen alum and Campbell & Co. employee Adeia first joined our Culinary Fundamentals program looking to turn a lifelong passion for the culinary arts into a career. Having grown up baking in the kitchen with her mother and grandmother, Adeia was eager to learn how to grow her skills and move into a professional kitchen. Referred by our partners at the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, Adeia first stepped into our Chelsea Market kitchen with equal parts excitement and nervousness. “You can’t believe you’re here and finally working on this lifelong dream,” she reflected. After the 5-week training program at Hot Bread Kitchen, Adeia was connected with the women-led team at Campbell & Co. and landed the job as a prep cook.
Transitioning from training at Hot Bread Kitchen into full-time work at Campbell & Co, Adeia commented how one of the most important lessons she brought with her was a thorough respect for the professional kitchen space and for her coworkers. Our Culinary Fundamentals program also taught Adeia about the importance of patience in the kitchen, and how to navigate when things don’t go as planned. All of these lessons along with her passion for the culinary arts is the reason Adeia was made employee of the month at Campbell & Co! Adeia shared that one of the most exciting parts of working at Campbell & Co. is learning new culinary skills and perfecting recipes that she personally enjoys. She told us, “I love the food I make and being a part of that process.” As she continues to learn and grow in her role and in this industry, Hot Bread Kitchen and Campbell & Co. will be there to support her every step of the way!
