On today's episode of All in the Industry®, host Shari Bayer's guest is Ellen Bennett, Founder & Culinary Creator of Hedley & Bennett, a Los Angeles-based handcrafted apron company. While working as a line cook at Bäco Mercat and 2-Michelin starred Providence in LA, Ellen realized the drab, essentially disposable aprons that served as their uniforms needed a major upgrade. She continued working both line cook jobs and threw herself into growing her apron business, spending time at farmers markets on the weekends and busting into kitchens and introducing herself to chefs from all over. Her approach has always been a straight up hug and real talk. R&D happened in real kitchens and she was able to really listen to what was needed to make a better apron. Aprons led to chef coats which led to work shirts. Hedley & Bennett now makes aprons in a ton of different styles, chef coats for men & women, work shirts, kitchen linens and the MISE knife bag, outfitting over 6,000 restaurants, operating a direct-to-consumer retail business and selling via wholesale partners including Williams Sonoma, Sur La Table and Whole Foods. Ellen has collaborated with brands across categories, with events or products in collaboration with Vans, Samsung, Pellegrino and Parachute Home. All Hedley & Bennett products are manufactured in its 16,000 square foot LA location, where Ellen has also created an immersive, playful community space. Today's show also features Shari's PR tip, Speed Round, Industry News discussion, and Solo Dining experience at Bunna Cafe in Bushwick, Brooklyn, NYC. Listen at Heritage Radio Network; subscribe/rate/review our show at iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Follow us @allindustry. Thanks for being a part of All in the Industry®!
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Image courtesy of Ellen Bennett.
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