Daniel Lubetzky has his own formula for world peace -- and it relies heavily on sun-dried tomatoes, olives, eggplant and pesto. Those are some of the flavors of Spraté, the spreadable pâté imported by Lubetzky's company, PeaceWorks.
Founded in 1994, PeaceWorks makes deals with specialty food producers in conflict-torn regions -- the Middle East, South Africa, Central America -- and in the process turns enemies into business partners. "When people from different groups work together, they shatter cultural stereotypes," says Lubetzky, JD '93, whose interest in reconciliation was sparked in part by his father's experience as a Holocaust survivor.
Besides Spraté (marketed under the "Moshe & Ali" brand), PeaceWorks products include Alteca Trading Co. salsas and spreads from the Chiapas region of Mexico, Wafa chocolate bars from Israel and a new line of pasta chips out of South Africa. They are sold online and through 5,000 retailers. "It's a very enjoyable thing to make money and do good at the same time," Lubetzky says. In other words, give profits a chance.
