Latest news with #ConnorBlakley
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jams, the Protein PB&J Company Backed by Alex Morgan and C.J. Stroud, Launches Exclusive Partnership with Walmart
Jams launched their PB&J sandwich across Walmarts nationwide on July 14 Each sandwich contains 10 grams of protein Various athletes and influencers have partnered with the brandIt's Peanut Butter Jelly Time! Jams, a new crustless PB&J company, just launched an exclusive, nationwide partnership with Walmart on Monday, July 14. Founded by 26-year-old entrepreneur Connor Blakley, these protein-rich sandwiches are equipped with 10 grams of protein and can be found in the frozen section in over three thousand Walmart locations across the U.S. In October, the Athletic reported that NFL teams eat at least 80,000 Uncrustable sandwiches a year, and Jams seeks to enter the PB&J market by offering a healthier alternative to the beloved sandwich. 'You shouldn't have to choose between delicious taste and ingredients you feel good about,' Blakely, founder of the Nashville-based consumer product house The DropOut Companies, said in a statement. 'Our product does not taste like artificial garbage.' The protein-packed snacks are available in two signature flavors — Strawberry and Mixed Berry — and don't contain any seed oils, food dyes or high fructose syrup. While competitor Smucker's Uncrustables also don't feature artificial ingredients, it has twice as much sugar and four fewer grams of protein than Jams. It's worth noting that a four-pack of Jams, $5.87, does cost slightly more than a 4-pack of Uncrustables, $4.34. Jams should be stored in the freezer after purchasing, and like their Uncrustable counterparts, can be eaten frozen, toasted or thawed out. NFL stars Micah Parsons and C.J. Stroud, and U.S. women's soccer star Alex Morgan are among a few athletes and internet creators who have partnered with the brand. The company aims to announce multiple other collaborations with popular influencers and athletes weekly over the next couple of months. 'Jams represent everything we believe brands should be - innovative, bold, and authentic. We make a deliberate choice not to cut corners," co-founder Josh Franko said. Jams are available exclusively in Walmart stores across the U.S. and online at Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Walmart selling Cleveland-natives' new take on PB&J
[WATCH: In the video player above, see which grocery chains are the most popular.] (WJW) – Walmart has picked up a new take on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and according to a press release, at the helm of the idea sits Cleveland-native Connor Blakley, a marketing guru who reportedly got his start when he was just a teen. Starbucks reveals 'secret menu:' What's on it The newly launched sandwiches, called Jams, are said to be a 'protein-packed and health-forward snack.' Man killed at Sherwin-Williams site identified According to a press release, 'Each sandwich packs 10 grams of protein, with no seed oils, no high-fructose corn syrup, no dyes, and has jelly made with real fruit, making it a craveable option for athletes, parents, and on-the-go snackers of all ages.' The launch of the sandwich also has star-power backing including professional soccer player Alex Morgan, NFL standouts CJ Stroud and Micah Parsons, as well as Poppi co-founders Allison and Stephen Ellsworth and viral digital creators The LaBrants, said the release. Jams are now available exclusively in Walmart stores nationwide and online at For more information, CLICK HERE. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNBC
14-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Athlete-backed Jams takes on peanut butter and jelly, protein craze
The classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich is getting a modern day upgrade and backing from some top athletes. Jams, a new company created by 26-year-old Connor Blakley, launched Monday and hopes to take on Smucker's Uncrustables as the next locker room and lunch box staple. Like Uncrustables, the sandwiches fall in the frozen foods category. Backed by names like U.S. soccer legend Alex Morgan and NFL Pro Bowlers C.J. Stroud and Micah Parsons, Jams will be available exclusively at 3,000 Walmart stores nationwide. Uncrustables has dominated the market with a near PB&J monopoly, but Blakley is hoping to differentiate his products by appealing to health-conscious consumers. "No. 1 is it's no seed oils," he said. "We have no dyes, no artificial flavors or colors, no high fructose corn syrup, and we have the most protein per ounce of any peanut butter and jelly that's currently on the market." Smucker's parent company J.M. Smucker, late last month said it would remove synthetic food colors from all of its consumer food products by the end of 2027. Jams is a slightly larger project than the Smuckers option, at a weight of 74 grams versus Uncrustables' 58 grams. Blakley also said his product has a lower total sugar content, and each sandwich contains 10 grams of protein. Walmart also stocks Uncrustables at a $4.34 price point. Jams will cost slightly more at $5.97 per box. Jams will initially be available in two flavors: strawberry and a mixed berry option. The entrepreneur, who dropped out of high school when he was 17, said he has taste-tested more than 250 iterations of PB&J sandwiches in the process of developing Jams. The sandwiches are manufactured in Ohio and Wisconsin. But Blakley has a steep hill to climb. In its most recent earnings call in June, J.M. Smucker said it is on track to generate over a billion dollars in net sales by the end of fiscal 2026 from Uncrustables, noting that they are the No. 1 product in the the total frozen category. To support the rising demand, Smucker's recently opened its third and largest Uncrustables manufacturing facility in McCalla, Alabama. Blakley said he believes the key market for his sandwiches will be athletes. NFL teams consume more than 80,000 Uncrustables per year as a growing number of teams and athletes look for a fast, convenient and filling snack, according to a 2024 report by The Athletic. "Athletes want to get the best possible products to fuel their body and lifestyle," Blakley said. He attributed the success of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich to two things: nostalgia and ease. "I think convenience is really, really a big part of why category has and will continue to take off," he said.
