“It’s been really life-changing for me,” August Wiese said. The Indiana snack company his mother founded to meet his dietary needs now runs a 10-week job-training program for people on the autism spectrum, with a 97% completion rate, WISH-TV reported.
Jennifer Wiese started BeeFree in her home kitchen before 2010, working with her mother to recreate family recipes after finding little suitable food for August, who is on the autism spectrum.
From Family Kitchen to 4,000 Retailers
“We really leaned into good, clean food, like simple ingredients, nothing artificial, lower in sugar, no gluten, no dairy, no soy,” Jennifer Wiese said. “There wasn’t much in the marketplace back then.”
BeeFree now sells products at about 4,000 retailers across the country, including Kroger, Meijer, Fresh Thyme, Fresh Market and Indianapolis International Airport, Jennifer Wiese said. Shoppers can also buy online at BeFreeGF.com.
The company makes gluten-free snacks including Drake’s Chocolate Brownie, a crunchy, sweet bite made with whole grains and named for August’s younger brother.
Warriors at Work Trains Adults With Autism
The company’s nonprofit Warriors at Work program offers a 10-week training primarily for people on the autism spectrum, teaching food-service and food-safety skills that lead to ServSafe certification, August Wiese said.
August initially described a 97% “hiring rate” but clarified he meant the program’s completion rate. The program helps participants build resumes and independence to prepare for other jobs, Jennifer Wiese said.
“There were a lot of other people who have some kind of disability or who need just a little something extra, and the workforce doesn’t always serve them in the best way,” she said.
August Wiese’s Changed Relationship With Food
“It’s been really good just to have a change in diet and to eat cleaner and to be around what a good, healthy relationship with food really means,” August Wiese said.
He said he has valued connecting with other people on the autism spectrum through the program and seeing its effect on their lives. “It’s been really special,” he said.
FAQ
What ingredients does BeeFree avoid?
BeeFree makes snacks without gluten, dairy, soy or artificial ingredients, using simple, clean ingredients and lower sugar, Jennifer Wiese said.
Is the 97% figure a hiring rate or completion rate?
It is the completion rate. August Wiese initially called it a “hiring rate” during the interview but clarified he meant the percentage of participants who complete the 10-week Warriors at Work program.
Can I buy BeeFree at Indianapolis International Airport?
Yes. BeeFree products are sold at the airport along with about 4,000 other retailers nationwide, including Kroger and Meijer, Jennifer Wiese said.
“Having tasty food first, like, we have to eat, right?” Jennifer Wiese said. “We want our food to taste really good.”
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