BranchOut Food Inc. (NASDAQ: BOF), a food technology company specializing in natural fruit and vegetable snacks, announced a partnership with Zesty Snackz and its founders, digital creators Brenten Szekely and Paul Cuffaro, to launch a new line of single-ingredient Fruit Chips under the Zesty Snackz label. The collaboration combines BranchOut's proprietary GentleDry™ dehydration technology with Zesty Snackz's growing snack platform and the expansive digital reach of two of YouTube's most recognizable lifestyle creators.
Brenten Szekely and Paul Cuffaro collectively reach millions of viewers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and other social platforms, where they have built highly engaged communities through authentic, family-friendly content. Their proven ability to drive purchasing behavior through storytelling and direct audience connection extends their brands into successful merchandise and consumer product lines. This direct-to-consumer channel represents a significant and untapped opportunity for BranchOut, distinct from its existing retail and industrial channels.
The new Zesty Snackz Fruit Chips line, powered by GentleDry™ technology, will launch with products made from 100% real fruit. These single-ingredient chips boast vibrant flavor, texture, and nutrients while offering shelf-stable convenience, free from added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients. The initial release will feature popular fruits including mango, pineapple, strawberry, and banana, with plans for additional varieties. BranchOut plans to ship the first full container of product to Zesty Snackz in April, with follow-on container-sized orders expected thereafter.
Eric Healy, CEO of BranchOut Food Inc., stated, “Our partnership with Zesty Snackz and creators like Brenten and Paul represents a powerful intersection of food innovation and modern consumer engagement. These creators have built trusted brands with highly engaged audiences. By combining that reach with our advanced drying technology and supply chain scale, we are uniquely positioned to deliver premium, single-ingredient snacks to a rapidly expanding market.”
Brenten Szekely added, “This partnership allows us to bring something to our audience that we genuinely believe in. Our community wants real, simple, high-quality products, and this collaboration delivers exactly that. After visiting the BranchOut facility in Peru and seeing the GentleDry™ process firsthand, we were incredibly impressed with the technology, the scale of the operation, and the team behind it. We’re excited to share that experience with our audience and will be releasing content from the visit in the coming months.”
The partnership leverages the creators' multi-million-subscriber platforms to drive consumer engagement and purchasing behavior, tapping into a direct-to-consumer channel that is completely distinct from BranchOut's existing retail and industrial channels. This move aligns with BranchOut's strategy to expand its market presence through innovative distribution channels and capitalize on the growing demand for clean-label, single-ingredient snacks.
For more information about Zesty Snackz, visit https://www.zestysnackz.com/. For more information about BranchOut Food, visit www.branchoutfood.com.
