What is a Social Enterprise?
According to Buy Social Canada, certified Social Enterprises are businesses that sell goods or services, embed a social, cultural, or environmental purpose into the business, and reinvest the majority of profits into their purpose. Social enterprises compete with traditional for-profit businesses, but use profits to invest in vibrant, healthy communities.
ASNL's Social Enterprise
The Pantry is a social enterprise of the Autism Society of NL. Our mission is to serve great food to the public while providing cooking skills and job training opportunities to Autistics from our province. Established in 2006 with the completion of The Elaine Dobbin Centre for Autism. The Pantry has been serving our community for over 20 years. During this time, we have employed and trained over 85 Autistics from around our beautiful province.
At The Pantry, our purpose goes beyond serving great food. As a social enterprise, every meal purchased directly supports meaningful employment, hands-on training, and community inclusion for autistic individuals and others facing barriers to employment. Rather than maximizing profit, The Pantry reinvests revenue back into creating supportive job opportunities, building practical life and workplace skills, and offering accessible food education programs. Through integration with other ASNL programs, including Transitions, The Pantry provides real-world hospitality experience in a welcoming environment where individuals can grow in confidence, independence, and connection. The result is a restaurant that not only feeds the community, but strengthens it by creating opportunities that have lasting social impact.