We believe that food does more than nourish:  food brings people together. We think it’s our responsibility to build meaningful relationships with each part of our extended family; the food we make and sell connects our staff, our guests, our producers and the environment. In this way, we “create community through food”.

Staff – We strive to create a learning and rewarding workplace for our staff.  Staff members are encouraged to taste everything, work on our Farms, and frequent events at18 Reasons, our community art & food space.  Food classes happen all the time.  We take care of our staff: each member is eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance, a 401k retirement plan, receives a meal with their shift, and is offered a generous discount. We want staff to be able to afford life in San Francisco and build a career as part of our Bi-Rite family.

Producers –We have a deep appreciation and respect for our vendors.  We don’t just taste the final product—we get to know the person who grows, raises, and crafts it.  By getting to know the farmer, fisherman, rancher, and artisan, we better appreciate their art, dedication and passion. As a result, we’re better stewards of their hard work.

Guests – We  treat our customers like guests in our own home. Their passion, enthusiasm, and desire to celebrate food are a constant source of inspiration for us; we learn from them every day.  Several of our staff members have started out as guests!

Environment – As a society, we realize that where we shop and what we eat has an impact on our environment. We hope our guests choose to shop at Bi-Rite because they want that impact to be a positive one. Since our inception we’ve made decisions that minimize our impact on natural resources, including using “green” cleaning products and supplies, composting organic waste, and recycling. When we applied for certification as aSan Francisco Green Business, we were proud that the practices we had in place already met or exceeded the criteria set forth.

We truly believe that through the relationships we build and nourish we are creating a stronger and more vibrant community.