SAN DIEGO, June 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Perfect Snacks® (http://www.perfectsnacks.com), a collection of fresh-from-the-fridge protein snacks, today celebrates its CEO Bill Keith named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2019 in the Industry Disruptors category. As a winner in the San Diego Region, Keith will advance to compete for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year National program later this year.
Widely considered one of the most prestigious business awards programs in the U.S., the Entrepreneur of the Year program recognizes entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world.
"This recognition is a tremendous honor and true achievement for my entire family and our incredible company," said Keith. "We founded Perfect Snacks with only the small amount of money we had to our name, a family recipe and all the hope in the world. To see what we've been able to do with this brand, 14 years later, is beyond my wildest dreams."
As CEO and Founder, Keith launched Perfect Snacks in 2005 with his dad's recipe and help from his brothers and sisters, a year after leaving college to support his family when their dad grew ill with melanoma. Keith slept in his car and showered at the local gym for 30 days straight while performing in-store demos at the one Whole Foods Market location that gave him a chance to prove his refrigerated protein bar concept—the first of its kind—had legs.
From there, Perfect Bar®— The Original Refrigerated Protein Bar™ — gained distribution into more and more retailers, carving out space in the fridge to anchor and build out a new grocery category, now called "Fresh Snacking." The Keiths bootstrapped the business for the first 10 years, navigating the manufacturing and distribution space all on their own, while managing the growth of their innovative fresh-snacking brand.
In 2015, Perfect Snacks took a minority investment from VMG Partners whose industry expertise and strategic insights would elevate the family business to scale effectively. With VMG, Perfect Snacks built out an executive team made up of industry veterans from the nation's top CPG brands (Kashi, 5-Hour Energy, General Mills and Udi's Gluten Free).
After spearheading the fresh snacking category, Perfect Snacks experienced an upswing in growth as consumer demand and retailer adoption for fresher, better-for-you snack options accelerated. This trend supported by a 2018 Mintel study titled The Future of Fresh, which found that "Is fresh" is the #1 purchase driver amongst Millennial and iGen consumers when shopping for food in the store.
Today, Perfect Snacks offers three product lines: Perfect Bar, Perfect Kids™ and Perfect Bites™, with Perfect Bar being the #1 selling refrigerated protein bar in the U.S. By the end of 2019, the Company is projecting more than $130MM in revenue and has a team of nearly 100 employees.
"Our company's unwavering commitment to delivering quality products, building a value-driven team and culture, and supporting the community has set the stage for the accelerated growth we are experiencing today," said Keith.
Perfect Snacks products are sold in the refrigerated section of more than 27,000 retail locations, including Whole Foods Market, Target, Trader Joe's, Starbucks, Kroger, Safeway/Albertsons and many more.
For more information on Perfect Snacks, visit http://www.perfectsnacks.com.
About Perfect Snacks®
Perfect Snacks® is a collection of fresh-from-the-fridge protein snacks for the whole family. Made with clean ingredients like freshly-ground nut butter, organic honey and superfoods, the brand's nutrient-dense products offer a delicious dose of whole food protein on the go. Makers of Perfect Bar®, The Original Refrigerated Protein Bar™, and founded by The Keith Family in 2005, Perfect Snacks boast clean-food labels and are gluten-free, Project Verified Non-GMO, low-GI and kosher.
Find Perfect Snacks products in the refrigerated section of more than 27,000 retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Target, Costco, Trader Joe's, Starbucks, Safeway, Kroger and more, as well as online. To learn more or find a fridge near you, visit http://www.perfectsnacks.com.
About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries. Follow news on Twitter @EY_EOY #EOYSD.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
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SOURCE Perfect Snacks
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