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A Different Kind of Company

Clif Bar and Company started on a bike ride. Our founder, Gary, took a bite of another energy bar and thought to himself: "I could make a better bar than this." Today, we still want to make things better. Our food. Our company. Even our planet. We'll keep working on it.

Clif bar company photo

The Story of CLIF - by Gary

CLIF BAR is named after my father, Clifford, my childhood hero and companion throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains.

In 1990, I lived in a garage with my dog, skis, climbing gear, bicycle and two trumpets.

The inspiration to create an energy bar occurred during a day-long, 175 mile bike ride with my buddy Jay. We’d been gnawing on some “other” energy bars all day. Suddenly, despite my hunger, I couldn’t take another bite. I thought, “I could make a better bar than this!” That’s the moment I now call “The Epiphany.”

Two years later, after countless hours in Mom’s kitchen, the CLIF BAR became a reality. And the mission to create a better-tasting energy bar was accomplished. Thanks, Mom!