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Startup wizard
Ricky Hirsch of Think Jerky thinks up a clever way to jumpstart
presales on Kickstarter
Star chefs Gale
Gand, Laurent Gras and Matt Troost
develop Think Jerky's flavor lineup
 Ricky Hirsch, founder of
Chicago-based Think Jerky, has already proven he's a savvy entrepreneur by
developing the first line of chef-crafted, artisan beef jerky that is truly in
step with today's food preferences-protein-rich and all-natural, containing no
glutens, hormones nor antibiotics. "Think healthy, think delicious, think
jerky!" exclaimed Hirsch.
Think Jerky is
the first company of its kind to develop jerky recipes that are created by
tapping the culinary finesse of award-winning chefs. Hirsch has partnered with
Chef/Partners Laurent Gras (awarded three Michelin stars while chef at L20),
James Beard award winning Gale Gand (Food Network, Tru, SpritzBurger) and
Chicago Baconfest champion Matt Troost (Three Aces, Charlatan), who have
created four flavors that bring jerky to a new level, all available in single
serving 1.5 oz. packages.
"Besides creating
a healthy and delicious jerky, I wanted to create a company that maintained the
integrity of the word 'chef', said Hirsch. "I think the term 'chef-crafted' will become completely meaningless in five years as
everything now is chef-crafted. It will become the new 'all-natural.' I
created this company to be the first CPG that's healthy, delicious, and
entirely chef-crafted by the real chefs of this country. The chefs who have
paid their dues working in kitchens for 15 hours a day, 6 days a week,
Michelin-star winners, James Beard winners, and so on."
The current
flavor lineup includes:
- Sriracha Honey -
Made with free-range turkey, Worcestershire sauce, gluten-free tamari, brown
sugar, sriracha mix, honey, onion powder and cayenne pepper
- Ginger Orange -
Made with grass-fed beef, gluten-free tamari, Worcestershire sauce, cane sugar,
ginger, garlic powder, orange peel, onion powder, sesame seeds and cayenne
pepper
- Sweet Chipotle
- Made with grass-fed beef, water, cane sugar, raspberry juice concentrate, sea
salt, ancho chili pepper powder, smoked paprika, black pepper and cayenne
pepper
- Thanksgiving -
Made with free-range turkey, cranberry juice, dried cranberries, cane sugar,
cabernet vinegar, sea salt, black pepper, onion powder, smoked paprika, thyme,
sage, garlic powder and marjoram
 "Jerky is a hot
product these days because people are seeking protein-rich natural snacks,"
said Hirsch. "Unfortunately, the jerky market is dominated by just a few
producers who don't create a premium product. Think Jerky is striking out in a
unique direction by driving beef jerky down new chef-driven roads. We've
involved top chefs in the creation of our jerky recipes and our products meet
very high quality standards."
Hirsch's business
creativity isn't limited to product development-he is also quite
marketing-savvy. He has thought of an innovative way to tap the popular
Kickstarter crowdfunding model. Unlike most Kickstarter campaigns, however,
Think Jerky is not looking for investors at this point in time. Rather, they
are looking for food retailers, distributors and consumers who want to jump on
the inevitable bandwagon early, by pre-ordering Think Jerky in large quantities.
The details of
Think Jerky's Kickstarter campaign, including products and packaging, can be
found at www.thinkjerky.com. A compelling video presentation at the site
explains the philosophy of Think Jerky and describes how they source their
ingredients, create recipes and manufacture their products.
"Customers who
purchase in large quantities using our Kickstarter campaign will be able to take advantage
of lower, high-volume pricing," said Hirsch. "Wholesalers and retailers will
get a jump start on the competition, while consumers can be the first to
introduce Think Jerky to their friends. Anyone who loves delicious, healthy
snacks that are rich in protein will be amazed at how good Think Jerky is."
Think Jerky will be available at high-end food retailers in the fall of 2015.
Hirsch is
convinced that the time is right for Think Jerky. The demand for beef jerky has
risen steadily over the past decade, but the market is dominated by a few
producers who have appealed to the mainstream rather than meeting the needs of
food-knowledgeable people who also expect healthfulness, purity and quality.
Think Jerky's meat is pasture-raised, sustainably farmed, antibiotic and
hormone free. The products have only one third of the sugar and half of the
salt found in most other brands.
Think Jerky
social media links
About Ricky
Hirsch:
Ricky Hirsch is
the creator and founding partner of Think Jerky. Originally born and raised in
Highland Park, IL. Hirsch is deeply rooted in Chicago with a love for its
culinary community. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he
ventured to New York to work in finance. He bought his first company in 2006,
which he sold to travel the world in 2008. Upon returning from his adventures
abroad, he worked for himself trading equities, while also considering how to
expand into the field he loves: food. In 2013, he followed his passion and
developed Think Jerky, partnering with nationally and locally renowned chefs to
create a sustainable, delicious, and healthy chef-crafted jerky. Hirsch will
watch his dream come true when Think Jerky launches in fall 2015.
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