BranchOut Food Inc. has announced a partnership with snack brand Zesty Snackz and YouTube creators Brenten Szekely and Paul Cuffaro to launch a new line of single-ingredient fruit chips. The collaboration combines BranchOut's proprietary GentleDry™ dehydration technology with the digital reach of creators who collectively engage millions of followers across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
The new Zesty Snacks Fruit Chips line will feature products made from 100% real fruit, including initial varieties such as mango, pineapple, strawberry, and banana. These chips are designed to be shelf-stable and free from added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients, targeting consumers seeking convenient, nutritious snack options. BranchOut plans to ship the first full container of product to Zesty Snacks in April, with follow-on container-sized orders expected thereafter.
This partnership is significant because it represents a convergence of food technology innovation and modern consumer marketing channels. BranchOut's GentleDry™ process, which preserves up to 95% of the original nutrition of fresh produce according to the company, provides the technical foundation for a premium product. Meanwhile, the involvement of Szekely and Cuffaro, who have built multi-million-subscriber platforms through authentic, family-friendly content, offers direct access to engaged audiences that traditional retail channels might not reach.
Eric Healy, CEO of BranchOut Food Inc., stated that the collaboration represents "a powerful intersection of food innovation and modern consumer engagement." He emphasized that the creators' trusted brands and engaged audiences, combined with BranchOut's technology and supply chain scale, position the company to deliver premium snacks to a rapidly expanding market. This direct-to-consumer channel represents a new opportunity for BranchOut, distinct from its existing retail and industrial operations.
Brenten Szekely noted that after visiting BranchOut's facility in Peru and seeing the GentleDry™ process firsthand, he and Cuffaro were "incredibly impressed with the technology, the scale of the operation, and the team behind it." He added that their community wants "real, simple, high-quality products," and this collaboration delivers exactly that. The creators plan to release content from their facility visit in the coming months, further connecting their audience with the product story.
The implications of this announcement extend beyond a simple product launch. It demonstrates how food companies are increasingly leveraging digital influence to reach consumers directly, bypassing traditional retail gatekeepers. For the snack industry, it highlights the growing demand for clean-label, single-ingredient products that offer both nutrition and convenience. For consumers, it represents more access to innovative snack options driven by authentic creator endorsements rather than conventional advertising.
BranchOut Food is a leading international food technology company specializing in dehydrated fruit and vegetable products, with more information available at https://www.branchoutfood.com. Zesty Snackz is a fast-growing snack brand focused on delivering bold, high-quality products through retail and digital channels, with details at https://www.zestysnackz.com. The partnership's success will depend on effectively translating digital engagement into sustained product demand, potentially setting a template for future collaborations between food innovators and digital creators.
