Innovation

Founded in 2020 in Philadelphia by Alexandra and Jacob Cohen, Kismet Bagels began as a pandemic hobby but quickly evolved into a mission-driven business that’s reshaping how a small food operation can deliver social impact. At its core, Kismet Bagels offers hand-rolled, long-fermented bagels made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, but it’s the values behind the food that set this company apart. Their innovation lies not in the bagel itself, but in how their entire business model supports fairness, sustainability, and community empowerment.

One of Kismet Bagels’ key contributions is its commitment to equitable employment practices, particularly in an industry often marked by wage inequity and inconsistent labor standards. The business prioritizes paying a living wage to all employees, offering more stability and dignity than the low-wage norms common in food service. Additionally, co-founder Alexandra Cohen actively leads initiatives to ensure a gender-inclusive work culture, which supports SDG 5: Gender Equality by promoting equal opportunity and leadership in small business settings. Kismet also works to keep prices fair and accessible, ensuring quality food doesn’t become a luxury.

Kismet’s innovation extends to how it minimizes food waste and maximizes local sourcing, supporting SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. By partnering with nearby suppliers and creating limited daily batches, they reduce overproduction while maintaining freshness. The business also donates leftovers and frequently collaborates with community organizations to repurpose surplus in meaningful ways, demonstrating that even a neighborhood bagel shop can help build a more just and sustainable food system.

Inspiration

The origins of Kismet Bagels are rooted in compassion and community care. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Alex and Jacob Cohen found themselves at home, searching for purpose during an uncertain time. What began as a simple act of baking to pass the time quickly evolved into something much more meaningful. As Alexandra shared during the interview, “We just wanted to find a way to help, even if it was small. We started making bagels and thought: why not use this to support the people risking their lives every day?”

With hospitals overwhelmed and frontline workers putting their health on the line, the Cohens decided to donate their homemade bagels to local nurses, doctors, and sanitation workers. “We wanted to provide food for nurses and frontline workers during the pandemic,” Jacob explained. “It was the least we could do.” The response from the community was immediate and heartfelt. Friends, family, and neighbors began donating money to support their efforts, and soon what started as a home kitchen project turned into a citywide movement of goodwill.

Nourishing others in a time of crisis became the foundation of Kismet Bagels. Their journey wasn’t driven by a business plan, but by a desire to give back. That spirit of service still guides their company today, shaping not only what they bake, but how they engage with their team, customers, and community.

Overall impact

Since opening the first location in Fishtown, Jacob and Alex Cohen have operated Kismet Bagels around a deep commitment to their employees and the greater Philadelphia community. Their intentional efforts towards supporting SDG 5 and an inclusive workforce have set an example that is a stark contrast from the standard in the food service industry. Kismet’s operations offer a breath of fresh air and a new system for an industry typically plagued with poor practices and overworked yet underpaid employees. At Kismet, employees, especially women, are empowered and promoted. An example of this is their first employee at the Fishtown location. Since then, she has been promoted to the position of Director of Operations. On top of these career advancement opportunities, all of their employees are being paid over the Pennsylvania state hourly wage and receive close to the equivalent of a living wage through the tips received throughout the day. This internal commitment to uplifting each individual has extended outward towards Kismet’s greater community as well.

Community outreach has been a part of Kismet’s operating system from the day the business started. By supporting SDG 12 and responsible production and consumption, Kismet is reducing its food waste, ensuring that the business isn’t wasting food in a city already known for its food deserts. This thoughtful awareness to feed those among the community in need is backed up by Kismet’s donations to local charities like Project Home, as well as their partnership with meal services like TooGoodToGo. While in the short term, they are feeding those in need, Kismet is a part of the group leading the charge towards reducing food waste and finding a long-term solution to irresponsible consumption and production.

Business benefit

Kismet Bagels and its innovations exemplify a business model that successfully balances the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. By actively hiring women and promoting from within, Kismet has increased employee satisfaction and retention among its workers. This is part of what has allowed Kismet to expand so quickly. Since 2020, Kismet has run four locations supported by 50 employees. In this year alone, two more locations will be opened, which will cause the workforce to grow to approximately 80. Kismet’s philosophy on hiring and promoting from within has aided in their fast-growing success, as it empowers each worker in the day-to-day, as well as in the long run with opportunities for growth and promotion.

In addition to the benefits from empowering each employee, Kismet is seeing financial gain from its food donations. Kismet gains customers and overall brand awareness through its donations to local charities. Over time, Kismet has become known as a positive influence in their community, which has in turn led to more customers walking through the door. On top of this, Kismet directly benefits from selling products nearing their expiration dates at discounted prices through services like TooGoodToGo. Instead of throwing away bagels and other food that hasn’t expired at the end of the day, Kismet sells these products at a large discount. While it isn’t the same as a regular sale, Kismet is still making money instead of wasting food and profit by throwing it away.

Social and environmental benefit

Kismet Bagel’s hiring practices have led to high employee retention rates and positive community acceptance in their locations' surrounding communities. By employing a primarily female workforce, female applicants see greater representation of themselves in Kismet Bagel’s business. Representation and promotion of female employees had led to Kismter Bagel’s fast growth and continuing business development.

Since the beginning of the Cohen’s bagel-making journey in 2020, they’ve acted with a community mindset. With giving back as the backbone of their business, they’ve attracted many local, like-minded partners who are willing to collaborate at lower costs than typical. For example, their marketing coordinator began “working for bagels” out of passion for the couple’s story and mission. This growing positive impact spreads to the surrounding environment of Kismet Bagel locations.

Interview

Jacob Cohen, Co-Owner