Country Archer Jerky Co., the fastest growing and #1 jerky brand in the natural channel, is targeting a rising macro category in the meat snack aisle and showcasing its new line of beef, pork and turkey meat sticks at Sweet & Snacks Expo. Unlike craft jerky, the clean meat stick category is in its infancy and ripe for explosive growth. Having entered the sub-category less than two years ago, Country Archer is already the fastest growing stick brand in the top ten of the category, and is growing at a rate of 375 percent, while the category as a whole is growing by 22.2 percent in the past 52 weeks according to SPINS.

To further propel growth of this next frontier in meat snacks, Country Archer will release four unique-to-the-category meat stick flavors, including: Chorizo Beef, Maple Bacon Pork, Pineapple Pork, and Hatch Turkey. The meat stick flavors will be available across North America in July of 2019 at an SRP of $1.99 per stick. Sweet & Snacks Expo attendees will have the chance to taste the mouthwatering flavors and lean more at booth #1393.

Additionally, Country Archer is rolling out its Mini Original Beef Sticks on shelves at Costco nationwide this month. The minis are compact versions of the existing Meat Sticks line. They are made with 100% grass-fed beef, Paleo and Keto Certified, and packed with five grams of protein, zero grams of sugar and just 50 calories per 0.5-ounce stick.

“We’ve maintained our position as the #1 and still fastest growing jerky brand in the natural channel for several years running, and we’re now spearheading the next clean snack revolution with our meat sticks,” said co-founder and CEO of Country Archer, Eugene Kang. “Whether on-the-go or trying to stick to lifestyles like keto or paleo, consumers are constantly searching for a nutritious, high-protein snack. In the past, brands that have dominated the meat snack category use unappealing ingredients like mechanically separated chicken that most modern shoppers don’t feel comfortable putting in their mouths. Our clean meat sticks give health-conscious shoppers exactly what they’re looking for in the category – the consumer response to our first meat stick SKUs has been phenomenal, and we’re already projecting a 246 percent compound annual growth rate on those items alone.”

Like all Country Archer meat snacks, the meat sticks are crafted with gourmet cuts of extra-lean, USDA-inspected 100 percent grass-fed beef, tender antibiotic-free turkey or pork, and are free of nitrites, MSG, gluten, antibiotics and added hormones. Featuring clean protein, and little to zero grams of sugar – thanks to the integration of naturally sweet dates – the new meat sticks are perfect for carb and sugar conscious consumers, as well as those seeking keto-friendly and paleo-friendly snacks. Flavor details include:

• Chorizo Beef – a keto-conscious delight with 0g of sugar, this protein-packed meat stick is a fiesta in your mouth with the perfect balance of spices and warm heat.
• Hatch Turkey – the legendary green chiles cultivated in New Mexico for generations meets antibiotic-free turkey for a spicy kick in this Southwest-inspired meat stick.
• Maple Bacon Pork – this perfect mix of sweet, smoky and savory, featuring uncured bacon and real maple, is the next best thing to sizzling warm bacon at breakfast.
• Pineapple Pork – bursting with flavor reminiscent of a tropical luau, hints of real pineapple hula with delectable antibiotic-free pork for a savory and not-too-sweet on-the-go treat.

Country Archer meat snacks are available at conventional, natural, mass, and convenience stores nationwide, including Starbucks, Whole Foods Market, Wegmans, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, 7-Eleven, Safeway, Smart & Final, Love’s Travel Centers, Speedway, WaWa, Pilot Flying J and Travel Centers of America.

Source: Country Archer