BranchOut Food Inc. (NASDAQ: BOF), a food technology company specializing in natural fruit and vegetable snacks, has announced a partnership with Zesty Snackz and its founders, digital creators Brenten Szekely and Paul Cuffaro, to launch a new line of single-ingredient Fruit Chips under the Zest Snackz label. The collaboration combines BranchOut's proprietary GentleDry™ dehydration technology with Zesty Snackz's growing snack platform and the extensive digital reach of Szekely and Cuffaro, who collectively command millions of followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms.
The new Zesty Snacks Fruit Chips line will feature products made from 100% real fruit, including mango, pineapple, strawberry, and banana, with plans for additional varieties. These single-ingredient chips, free from added sugar, preservatives, or artificial ingredients, are produced using BranchOut's GentleDry™ process, which preserves up to 95% of the original nutrition of fresh produce while offering shelf-stable convenience. BranchOut plans to ship the first full container of product to Zesty Snacks in April, with follow-on orders expected thereafter.
“Our partnership with Zesty Snackz and creators like Brenten and Paul represents a powerful intersection of food innovation and modern consumer engagement,” said Eric Healy, CEO of BranchOut Food. “These creators have built trusted brands with highly engaged audiences. By combining that reach with our advanced drying technology and supply chain scale, we are uniquely positioned to deliver premium, single-ingredient snacks to a rapidly expanding market.”
Brenten Szekely and Paul Cuffaro have built multi-million-subscriber platforms through authentic, family-friendly content centered on lifestyle, adventure, aquatics, and entrepreneurship. Their ability to drive purchasing behavior through storytelling and direct audience connection extends their brands into successful merchandise and consumer product lines. This direct-to-consumer channel represents a significant and untapped opportunity for BranchOut, distinct from its existing retail and industrial channels.
“This partnership allows us to bring something to our audience that we genuinely believe in,” said Brenten Szekely. “Our community wants real, simple, high-quality products, and this collaboration delivers exactly that. After visiting the BranchOut facility in Peru and seeing the GentleDry™ process firsthand, we were incredibly impressed with the technology, the scale of the operation, and the team behind it.”
The partnership underscores a broader trend of influencer-led brands entering the food space, leveraging digital trust to drive product adoption. For BranchOut, which holds over 17 patents for its dehydration technology, the collaboration provides a direct line to consumers who prioritize clean-label, nutrient-dense snacks. More information about Zesty Snackz is available at zestysnackz.com, and details about BranchOut Food can be found at branchoutfood.com.
