Metro Detroit-based Skinny Butcher, a plant-based brand launched by former Garden Fresh Gourmet executives, has announced its restaurant-quality line of Crazy Crispy Chick'n Breasts, Tenders, Nuggets and Patties is now available throughout Michigan at Costco Wholesale, all Gordon Food Service outlets, and SpartanNash corporate stores. Founded by Dave Zilko, Mike Griffin and the late Jack Aronson (whose wife, Annette, remains active with the company), Skinny Butcher is also offered at independent markets via Lipari Foods' distribution network of more than 700 stores in 27 states.
Unlike Garden Fresh's humble beginnings at the Aronson's struggling Ferndale, Michigan, restaurant, Skinny Butcher debuted nationally in the competitive, plant-based frozen poultry alternatives category in May 2022 at Walmart. The Skinny Butcher brand was part of a copromotion with the popular Netflix series Stranger Things, with the TV show's logo on the company's Crazy Crispy Chick'n Nuggets package. The campaign went viral on social media and was Walmart's #1-selling plant-based item throughout June 2022. Skinny Butcher then entered Midwest and Northern California Costco locations and expanded regionally in thousands of Safeway, Albertsons, Gelson's and H-E-B supermarkets.