Paris Baguette’s U.S. chief executive officer recently stepped out of the boardroom and into a sixth-grade classroom, underscoring the bakery chain’s effort to embed environmental, social and governance principles into everyday community engagement.
Darren Tipton, CEO of Paris Baguette America, visited Hillside Elementary School in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., on Jan. 8 after receiving a handwritten letter from a student praising the company’s environmental initiatives, the company said.
The letter was written by sixth grader Grayson Chiu as part of a classroom assignment in which students were asked to write to an individual or organization they admired or wished to thank. Chiu chose Paris Baguette, citing his appreciation for its products as well as its participation in Earthday.org’s Canopy Project, a global reforestation initiative aimed at forest conservation.
Rather than responding with a written note, Mr. Tipton opted to visit the school in person. During the surprise appearance, he spoke with students about leadership, business management, sustainability and the process of developing new food products. He also brought donuts—mentioned in the original letter—to share with the class.
“I was deeply encouraged that a young student took the time to learn about a company’s environmental policies and express support,” Mr. Tipton told the students, according to the company. “Your words and ideas are more powerful than you might think, and they truly have the ability to make a positive impact.”
The visit reflects Paris Baguette’s broader approach to ESG in the U.S., where the company has sought to move beyond one-off campaigns toward sustained, community-level engagement. Company officials said the goal is to foster authentic connections with consumers and future generations by integrating ESG principles into daily operations.
Paris Baguette has expanded its social impact efforts nationwide. The company donates unsold products daily to City Harvest, a New York-based food rescue organization, and partners with No Kid Hungry on nationwide initiatives aimed at addressing childhood food insecurity.
The bakery chain said it plans to continue strengthening ties with local communities across North America, positioning ESG not as a separate initiative but as a core element of its brand and long-term growth strategy.
