Many companies have a sweet spot where revenues gush and profits pool. Pamela’s Products has multiple sweet spots: cookies, brownies, fig bars, cake mix, scones and new oat bars, all adding up to more than $30 million in revenue.
The company, with headquarters and about six people in San Rafael, and manufacturing in Ukiah, attained widespread penetration with gluten-free baked goods in giant retail chains including Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, Costco, Safeway and Kroger. The entire Whole Foods chain — more than 400 stores — carries Pamela’s Products, according to Pamela Giusto-Sorrells, founder and president, who launched the brand in 1988. The bakery sells goods on Amazon and has about 95 employees.
The granddaughter of business owners who in 1940 opened Golden Crescent Health-Foods store at Gough and Fulton streets in San Francisco, Giusto-Sorrells watched her dad bake and sell health-food cookies in his parents’ store. His cookies left out taste. She resolved to improve on the sweets.
About eight years ago, Giusto-Sorrells hired Linda Gerwig as vice president of sales. Gerwig, with food-industry experience at Hain Celestial Group, Barbara’s Bakery and Sunspire, brought corporate sophistication to Pamela’s.
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