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Tyler Noyes and Brett Johnston are the Co-Founders of Kalahari Snacks. The company was started after an adventure of a lifetime in South Africa after an encounter with biltong, an indigenous dried meat snack—and no, it’s not jerky. Tyler and Brett realized that the simplicity of the ingredients and the tenderness of the product would be a total game-changer for US consumers. So, they embarked on their mission to bring a centuries-old South African tradition to family, friends, and the rest of the country with one delicious piece of biltong at a time.
The difference between biltong and jerky
How Tyler and Brett got to know each other and how the idea for a biltong business came about
How the business partners found a co-manufacturer for their product and how they started selling
What is biltong—and is it a replacement for jerky?
How Tyler and Brett worked out their responsibilities for the company
Brett and Tyler talk about their new product, Kalahari beef crisps, and how they have been marketing the snack
How Kalahari Snacks has been handling demos and sales during the coronavirus pandemic
What businesses need to consider when deciding on an exit strategy
How Brett and Tyler got funding for their company
Tyler and Brett's advice to fellow entrepreneurs on handling business challenges
Where to find more information on Kalahari Snacks
During an adventure in South Africa, Tyler and his friend Brett tried biltong, a dried, cured meat similar to beef jerky, and were immediately hooked. They loved it more once they learned that the snack was made of six simple ingredients that they could easily find to make their own biltong.
This realization sparked a business idea for Tyler and Brett: produce the beef snack and market it in the US. The air-dried, thinly sliced pieces of beef contain protein but no sugar, carbs, or soy. Factor in the flavor, and you’ve officially found the perfect meat snacks.
Tyler Noyes and Brett Johnston, Co-Founders of Kalahari Snacks, are Steve Cleere's guests in this week's episode of NexxtLevel Podcast. Together, they talk about biltong and their entrepreneurial journey, the differences between biltong and jerky, and how they share the responsibility of running Kalahari Snacks, the company they created.
AF Ventures (formerly AccelFoods)
Our podcast today is sponsored by Kitchen2Shelf, the educational arm of NexxtLevel Brands. Kitchen-2-Shelf provides online and in-person courses and workshops for CPG entrepreneurs at any stage of growth.
Whether you're an early-stage startup, a local growing business, or if you want to just expand your distribution to a national level, Kitchen-2-Shelf can help you learn what you need to know to grow.
Visit their website to get access to some free tools that can help you understand where your business stands.
Contact them today to find out how they can help you grow your brand and expand your business to reach its full potential.
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