Clover Food Lab

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Clover Food Lab
Key people
  • Ayr Muir (Founder and CEO)
  • Julia Wrin Piper (Chief Operating Officer)
ProductsFast food
Number of employees
400 (May 2017)
Websitecloverfoodlab.com

Clover Food Lab is a vegetarian fast food chain founded in 2008 which operates food trucks and restaurants in Massachusetts, United States.[1] The company serves a simple menu that changes daily and with the seasons based on what is available from local farmers and includes a large mix of organic ingredients.[2][3][4][5] The company also offers meal delivery boxes and catering.[1][6]

History

The company was founded in October 2008, by the

MBA Ayr Muir, as one food truck serving the area around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).[7] As of summer 2018, Clover Food Lab had some 400 employees operating in 12 restaurants across the greater Boston area.[8]

The

Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[10][11][12] The company emerged from bankruptcy on April 24, 2024.[13]

Environmental vision

The company was founded by Ayr Muir, a graduate of

compostable.[17] Despite Clover Food Lab's focus on local, sustainable and vegetarian food, Muir consciously avoids branding the company's food as such, fearing that "no one will eat it if we do".[14]

Design

Clover Food Lab's trucks and restaurants have minimalist, somewhat industrial design, and include elements that give them the look and feel of a laboratory.[15] The sides and walls are plain white, menus are written on whiteboards with black dry-erase marker, and the restaurants are brightly lit and have mostly stool seating. The kitchen has "a pop-up quality, as if the crew is here temporarily, planning to relocate elsewhere."[18] Staff enter customer orders and process credit and debit cards through an iPad (previously an iPod touch), and give change from their money belts instead of cash registers.

  • Interior of Inman Square location
    Interior of Inman Square location
  • Harvard Square Massachusetts Avenue location seating
    Harvard Square Massachusetts Avenue location seating
  • First location in Harvard Square
    First location in Harvard Square
  • Assembly Square location
    Assembly Square location

Reception

A Clover sandwich and drink

Clover Food Lab's

The Huffington Post for its intense use of technology (especially social media), distinctive product, and cult-like following.[21] In 2016, it was named the best farm-to-table restaurant in Massachusetts by Travel + Leisure.[4]

Pay What You Want Day

Typically held on the first day of operations of a new Clover location, Pay What You Want Day allows the area to get to know the food and for the staff to work out their pace.[22] In 2015, Pay What You Want Day was experienced in Central Square with the opening of CloverHFI.[23]

In 2016, Clover Food Lab opened the doors to three new locations and one food truck all featuring Pay What You Want Day.[24][25] All proceeds made during the openings were donated to The Food Project.[26]

Kosher certification

Most Clover locations are certified

kosher by Lighthouse Kosher,[27] which is not listed among the Acceptable Kashrus Agencies of the Chicago Rabbinical Council.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b Bigora, Peyton (2022-10-10). "Clover Food Lab opens newest location complete with specialty grocery store". Grocery Dive. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  2. ^ a b Chung, Juliet; Wingfield, Nick; et al. (June 5, 2009). "The Truck Stops Here: 10 Top Food Trucks in The U.S." Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Boston's Best Food & Drink 2011". The Improper Bostonian. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Matison, Lauren (May 10, 2016). "The Best Farm-to-table Restaurant in Every State". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. ^ Baskin, Kara (April 25, 2023). "Clover Food Lab COO Julia Wrin Piper wants people to dream of vegetables - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2023-05-05.
  6. ^ Trieger Kurl, Ann. "A beefed-up (but still beefless) Clover opens in Assembly Row". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  7. ^ a b Landrigan, Kelly (October 24, 2011). "Menino looks toward a healthier Boston in kicking off Food Day". The Daily Free Press. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  8. ^ "Locations and hours -Clover Food Lab". Clover Food Lab. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  9. ^ Sad news about CloverBBY
  10. WBUR
    .
  11. ^ "Clover files for bankruptcy". BKData. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  12. ^ Lee, Thomas (November 6, 2023). "Vegetarian restaurant chain Clover Food Lab files for bankruptcy - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  13. WBUR
    .
  14. ^
    Technology Review. Archived from the original
    on April 23, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  15. ^ a b Chang, Lian Chikako (February 4, 2011). "Because you can't eat architecture". Boston Society of Architects. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  16. ^ Bettex, Morgan (January 13, 2010). "Even in the cold, Clover is hot". MIT News. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  17. ^ Johnston, Susan (March 8, 2011). "Clover Food Lab Does the Impossible". Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  18. ^ a b Julian, Sheryl (February 16, 2011). "An experiment in building better food". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on December 13, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  19. ^ "Food Truck Challenge". City of Boston. 2011. Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  20. ^ Al Hmoud, Mounira (October 28, 2011). "Getting coffee on the go in Allston, thanks to food trucks". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  21. ^ Waters, Joe (November 5, 2011). "What Nonprofits Can Learn From The Food Truck Craze". The Huffington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  22. ^ "Clover will donate all proceeds from its Downtown Crossing opening on Tuesday". Boston.com. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  23. ^ "The First 24-Hour Restaurant in Cambridge Opens Today with Free Sandwiches". BostInno. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  24. ^ Hatic, Dana (2016-01-22). "Pay What You Want for Clover DTX's Opening Day". Eater Boston. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  25. ^ "CloverNEW opening: Pay What You Want on Wednesday June 1, 11am-2pm - Clover Food Lab". www.cloverfoodlab.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  26. ^ "Clover will donate all proceeds from its Downtown Crossing opening on Tuesday". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  27. ^ "Clover is Kosher". Clover Food Lab.
  28. ^ "Acceptable Kashrus Agencies". Chicago Rabbinical Council.

Further reading

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