McCain Foods backed startup, NUGGS, will launch in retail this spring. NUGGS will also debut at Expo West in Anaheim on March 4-6.
Since its launch in 2019, NUGGS has sold out every version of its constantly updated nuggets through an entirely direct-to-consumer model that has relied on customer feedback to improve each release. Moving forward, NUGGS will be available in retail locations, beginning this spring. NUGGS has selected two retail broker partners: Acosta for the conventional grocery market and Green Spoon for the natural grocery market.
NUGGS will make its commercial debut at Expo West at booth N400.
As NUGGS expands its reach, it has hired industry veteran Matt Merson as Vice President of Sales. In his role, Merson will oversee the retail launch of the brand. His 30-year career in food and beverage includes 15 years in foodservice with both Dannon and Sara Lee. Since that time, Matt has held a number of key leadership positions across Coca-Cola, Energy Brands, Boxed Water and ZICO Coconut Water.
“We are really excited to have Matt on the team. His unmatched experience in the industry has given him extensive understanding of the distributor and retail world. His strategic vision for kick starting NUGGS’ next phase speaks to just how well he understands the brand and product,” said Ben Pasternak, Founder and CEO of NUGGS.
“McCain is a proud investor and partner to NUGGS and it’s fantastic to see this exciting startup establishing itself so quickly across multiple consumer channels through truly innovative consumer connections and insight,” said Mauro Pennella, Chief Growth Officer of McCain Foods.
Merson commented: “I am incredibly humbled to work alongside Ben and his team. They have built an incredible product that gained significant traction direct-to-consumer, with the strategic backing of McCain. It is now time to launch across natural and conventional retail. The category is red hot and approaching $5 billion as consumers adapt their eating habits. We also have incredible active investors in McCain and others that will allow us to bring this brand to life in the global market quickly.”
About McCain:
McCain Foods Limited is the world’s largest manufacturer of frozen potato products and a global leader in appetizers and snacks. It employs approximately 22,000 people, operates 51 production facilities on six continents and generates annual sales in excess of CDN $10 billion.
About NUGGS:
NUGGS set out to give chicken nuggets a much needed update. After months of R&D, the NUGGS team concluded that given new advancements in food technology, the best nugget on the planet should be made out of new plant protein technologies instead of outdated, animal-based ones. The advantages are obvious: NUGGS are higher in protein, lower in calories, cholesterol free, and easier to produce than animal-based nuggets. NUGGS, like any great technology, are constantly being updated. They are currently on version 1.6.
