I suspect there were quite a number of premie run businesses to support Prem's coffers. I recall two large contributors (80's,90's) that I was familiar with.a) A school textbook operation - (buying low at end of qtr. and selling high to new students who needed said text at beginning of qtr.) operated by a network of devotee's who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars, and who were no doubt given some attaboy access for their efforts.
b) Rainbow Grocery's in Denver, Seattle, and San Francisco. I worked in the smallest enterprise in Seattle (I considered it service - low pay, long hours) We supplied the boy's and girl's ashrams, (tofu, fruit, vegetables, rice, etc.) And were elated if/when they paid their bills. It was a small store created by premies to support his work and the community. Denver and SF were much larger.
"Prem Mark" Distributing was created and was a separate business run out of Denver in addition to their store there. All profits to his majesty. Prem Mark eventually sold as Natural Food distributers then began consolidating into their present multi billion industry.
For an interesting read: 'Hippy Food' (J. Kaufman)
It notes dozens of Natrl. Food enterprises begun from communes/cults/co-operatives/ colorful characters. Most all (not Bronners!) have been bought up and absorbed by large corporations.
