Built on Dignity, Work, and Human Connection
Roseto was founded on a simple belief: people thrive when they are trusted, included, and given meaningful work. We are a candle company, but candles are not the point. They are the vehicle.
As a social enterprise based in Branchburg, New Jersey, Roseto reinvests 100% of profits back into the people who make the work possible. Our focus is supportive employment for individuals in recovery and others in our community who face barriers to securing a job.
We believe dignity is built through consistency, responsibility, and belonging. Work can be part of healing. Community can change outcomes
Roseto was created in response to a gap. Too many people capable of rebuilding their lives are excluded from traditional employment structures. Too many businesses extract value without reinvesting in the people behind the product.
Roseto exists to prove a different model is possible. A for profit company that prioritizes people.
A workplace that removes unnecessary barriers.
A business where growth supports stability and opportunity.
What Inspired Roseto
The town of Roseto, Pennsylvania became known for unusually low rates of heart disease despite economic hardship. Researchers discovered the strength of community, connection, and shared support played a defining role in health outcomes. Roseto draws from this principle: environment matters. Belonging changes lives.
The Roseto Effect
Studies on addiction revealed that isolation worsens dependency, while enriched environments reduce it. Recovery is not only about abstinence. It is about connection, purpose, and meaningful engagement. Roseto operates from this understanding.
Rat Park Research
Inspired by models that remove background checks and resume requirements, Roseto prioritizes readiness to work over past history. Opportunity should not be limited by a record or a chapter someone has already lived through.
Open-Hire Philosophy
Investing in a Cause:
A Message From Our Founder
As a practicing attorney for more than 30 years, I have sat in many criminal court rooms wondering - my God, how have we gotten to this point in our society? Case after case, the overwhelming majority of prosecutions involve illegal drugs. Even cases of theft, fraud and prostitution, which on their face have nothing to do with drugs, are usually tied to illegal drugs since they are committed by people desperate to fund their insatiable addiction. Our courts have devolved into de facto treatment centers of last resort for drug addiction, though they were never created with that purpose in mind and are ill equipped to do so. What a wasteful and ineffective approach to altering human behavior – turning a person with an addiction problem into a criminal.
Personally, I do not struggle with a drug or alcohol addiction, though one does not need to be a recovering addict or alcoholic to see that the way we approach recovery is short-sighted. Rather than trying to beat people into submission using sanctions, fines and incarceration, we should be doing the opposite by creating avenues of opportunities for people to begin realizing their worth and intrinsic value as human beings. Once a person feels valued and hopeful about their future, they and they alone can then begin making the necessary adjustments in order to lead a more fulfilling life. Such a transformation takes place internally within the person, not externally in front of a judge.
Roseto Amore is about giving people in recovery a chance to integrate back into society, not with handouts or the threat of punishment, but rather by working cooperatively with others to form a workplace community that is inspiring and supportive of all its members. We do not judge anyone who wishes to be part of our community and our only prerequisite is that the person be sincere in his or her desire to improve their circumstances. As an Addiction Recovery Social Enterprise, 100% of our revenue goes into meeting our expenses, paying a living wage to all our employees, providing health care benefits and investing in initiatives intended to encourage and help people in recovery. We are not about making a handful of people rich or positioning ourselves to eventually exploit workers or reduce costs farming out our products overseas in order to maximize profits.
On the consumer side, Roseto Amore is about making memorable candles that not only are pleasing to the eyes and nose, but are inspirational to the heart and soul. Each candle is hand crafted and poured by people in recovery using natural, sustainable raw materials including 100% soy wax, cotton wicks and non-toxic fragrances. One word will come to mind when you experience one of our candles: Pride. There was a time, after all, when pride mattered and people cared about the products they made. We are proud of what we do at Roseto Amore.
So if it matters to you where the products and services you purchase come from and if you believe, like we do, that people in recovery ought to be given a chance to get back on their feet by working diligently and in concert with others, I invite you to direct your business our way and invest in our cause. You will not be disappointed in our candles and you will certainly feel good that your purchase went to support a noble and just cause.
Tony Serra
Founder/Social Mobilizer/Lawyer
Contact us
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have a question about our candles, subscriptions, gifting services, custom candle offerings, want to learn more about our mission, or are interested in partnering with us, we’re here and happy to connect.
Reach out - every conversation helps us grow stronger together. Let’s light the way to a better future.