Were not going to be presumptive, McCray says. EWG reserves the right to make public any information provided to it by companies. Many of these uses are for the manufacturers benefit and not the consumer's health as excess sodium intake is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease (IOM 2010). So, I started thinking about that more and more, thinking: How did I do this? All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. 30 Day Return Policy. This process typically works like a charm, except for when an associate forgets to date the package. The best person to ask for help is the Meat or Deli Manager. My product is certified as having 70% or more organic ingredients Of course, growth doesnt happen by accident. We just got to work, McCray says of the early days. Money back or replacement guarantee against any manufacturers defects within 1 year of purchase. He understood the manufacturing side, and was completely enamored with the idea of starting Kevins kind of business. Name We got into vegetable-based side dishes, like General Tsos cauliflower and mashed sweet potatoes and some other green-based sides. Its in the corporate standards now. Our entres include both the sous-vide meats and the sauce; however, the sauce is in a separate pouch. Almost every retailer we partner with has objectives around improving healthy offerings and, with Kevins, they have a line that helps them deliver on their own corporate missions. This product is not certified organic [read more], Producer claims no misuse of antibiotics for meat, egg, or dairy ingredients in this product [read more]. And this year, were on track to do $100 million in sales.. Produce that share color often share health benefits. Combined with your common sense, you should be able to determine whether or not to throw out food. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that common sense goes a long way. And what would become the businesses core equitywhat they do well, and only they can do. This empowers them to get a nice browning on the meat and also to deglaze the pan with the sauce, which improves the quality of the finished product. EWG marks a product it is aware has been discontinued with a banner identifying it as such. EWG scored on three factors: nutrition, ingredient concerns, and the degree of processing. McCray: This is the most important aspect of the Kevins brand. I have products I want to add to the database You betcha! Please note that EWG obtains the displayed images of products from third parties and that the product's manufacturer or packager may change the product's packaging at any point in time. Roche BrothersIt seemed retailers everywhere agreed. Our internal motto became no bad bites.. I returned to good health, kicked my dependence on conventional medicine, and have been an advocate of clean eating ever since., It was 2009. Product has been classified as having moderate processing concerns. The resulting data pass through a complex computer program that checks for data inconsistencies, but occasional spelling errors persist. Meats hard to process; it takes a special expertise, says McCray. It was very communal.. See how a store is chosen for you. There is no way for us to get around this. I adopted the diet that would change my life forever. The tricky part is that the USDA requires us to list our servings on the panel according to their Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed guidelines which is 3 servings per container at 5oz each for this product category. We take great pride in that we have a 100% fill rate. We recommend that you do not rely solely on the information presented on our Web or Mobile sites and that you review the product's label or contact the manufacturer directly if you have specific product concerns or questions. Protein provides calories and if eaten in excess will be stored as fat. Still, consumers have many good reasons to avoid eating genetically engineered ingredients, including limited safety studies, the development of "superweeds" and increased pesticide use. If the item details above arent accurate or complete, we want to know about it. The World Health Organization recommends no more than 6 to 12 teaspoons of added sugar a day for adults, children should eat even less (WHO 2002; WHO 2014). It was like a series of breakthroughs. And it came down to things like meal prep and using culinary shortcuts like sauces, and finding different ways to make the food interesting., And interest came from all corners of the B2B landscape. Products bearing the USDA certified organic seal must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredient, and must be produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and free of genetically engineered ingredients. We are just planning animals., Now with protracted pandemic easing slightly, the biggest challenge in expanding the clean food movement into the mainstream, says McCray, is going to be scaling further, and driving the price points down. We know there are a lot of ways to interpret which foods qualify as Paleo so we have adopted the standards established by The Paleo Foundation. We have a variety of Paleo-Friendly and Paleo-Certified products. EWG has not identified any artificial or industrial ingredients in this product. For more information on ingredient concerns, read methodology. We just would not leave until the orders were out. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Many stores are responsible for dating the package when they place it on the shelf. The Eat Well Guide helps consumers find locally grown and sustainably produced food. Thats why we didnt short a single order in the pandemic, says McCray. We shipped our first product of Kevins in August of 2019, co-founder Kevin McCray tells We First. Unauthorized seller on Amazon The Clean Pan is oven-safe up to 400F (350F with lid). All that while staying committed to the Lead With We purpose on which it was founded: To provide a line of healthycleanentres, sauces, and seasoning blends intended to make clean eating not only taste delicious but also fit seamlessly into any lifestyle. We also liked that there was wide open space for a brand like oursthere were no brands focusing on health and the category was lacking options that delivered big on flavor. Dont get me wrong, we established strict nutrition standard and we stick to them. It is written into their code and we have to comply. How? We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. While I was there, he says, I met an entrepreneur named Dan Costa, who became the co-founder of Kevins and my business partner. Dan had a much longer history in the food industry. Content on this site is for reference purposes only. USE BY is a recommendation for the last date to use the product while at peak quality. We better get something going and get back with everybody., Kevins partnerships kept piling up: Publix, Raleys, Schnucks. Forget most of what youve learned about legacy business thinking and practices, McCray advises. And it was just like, Were all in this together trying to fill the shelves, as McCray puts it. We have a large variety of Keto-Friendly and Keto-Certified products. We entered the sides arena with low glycemic offerings like Cauli Mac & Cheese, Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Mashed Cauliflower that were free of grains, preservatives and industrial seed oils. Ingredient List Most of this sodium comes from processed foods where sodium is added to mask the lack of freshness by enhancing the flavor, texture or palatability and extending shelf-life (IOM 2010). ;) According to the FDA, the following is considered a spice: Allspice, Anise, Basil, Bay leaves, Caraway seed, Cardamon, Celery seed, Chervil, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Cumin seed, Dill seed, Fennel seed, Fenugreek, Ginger, Horseradish, Mace, Marjoram, Mustard flour, Nutmeg, Oregano, Paprika, Parsley, Pepper, black; Pepper, white; Pepper, red; Rosemary, Saffron, Sage, Savory, Star aniseed, Tarragon, Thyme, Turmeric. Almost immediately, you start looking for white space out there in the world. We approach development as chefs, not scientist. This value alignment has helped us foster strong partnerships that are aligned around the mission we are both us and our retail partners are passionate about. And then, we have a line of simmer sauces, condiment sauces, and seasonings, says McCray.. The answer is Sous-Vide! See how we make shopping for wellness even easier. Short answer: There are two servings in each package. Other (please describe problem in the description field above), Label for Kevin's Natural Foods Mild Korean Bbq Style Chicken, Mild Korean Bbq Style captured by LabelINSIGHT on Dec 21, 2020, The nutrition factors used for scoring Kevin's Natural Foods Mild Korean Bbq Style Chicken, Mild Korean Bbq Style. Successful business today is all about solving that real problem in the real world, something you personally care deeply about, and someplace where you and a team you assemble just might be able to innovate an effective solution. Category Read more about scores here. At the same time, there was a shift in the zeitgeist around food, he notes: People had gone from needing an education and needing motivation to eat healthy to everybody wanting to eat healthy. We had branding, marketing, planningwe would say, Okay. Considers food additives, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and contaminants like mercury and BPA, which can affect human health and the environment. While over 160 food ingredients may cause allergic reactions current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations stipulate that 8 major food allergens must be labeled on products. Data provided by LabelINSIGHT. That, and control of all its own manufacturing was critical during the pandemic, when many food companies suffered or went under. Wed work the overtime. Please email us at info@kevinsnaturalfoods.com, 2022 Kevin's Natural Foods BEST IF USED BY, SELL BY, USE BY. You need everybody to step up, from the top person to the secretary, janitor, supervisor. The Clean Pan is made of hard anodized aluminum for maximum durability and fully dishwasher safe. So, in an effort to be as transparent as possible, whenever we communicate directly with our customers, we advise that our meals are two servings so their expectations are properly set. Top Findings Americans average 3,400 mg of sodium a day. In order to protect our "secret sauces", we do not individually list the spices we use in our products. Purpose At Work: How Kevin's Natural Foods Leads a Clean Eating Revolution. Must also return free tools. Listings include farms, restaurants, stores, farmers' markets, and CSAs throughout the United States. Everything else is a guideline. A boat on the Blue Ocean attracts a fleet of others looking to capitalize. So, everybodys a shareholder, and everybody has skin in the game., Beyond the employee equity pool, McCray leads a thriving company culture. Founder/CEO of We First, & author of new book at LeadWithWe.com. However, a few of our products do contain Ghee, Cream, and/or Cheese. Sprouts. How am I living this way? Cage free chickens abound. Store Locator here, IM AT A PARTICIPATING RETAILER, BUT I STILL CANT FIND KEVINS . Absolutely! Kevins exclusively uses meat and poultry that has been raised with no antibiotics or hormones and all of our beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. EWG assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of images presented. Best believe it! Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: Extending the shelf life of clean label foods, Industry leaders debate the health impacts of processed foods, Kroger touts bright future of natural foods, Robinson Fresh grows 'new age' grape varieties to diversify supply base, Current bread trends for instore bakeries, Summer decorating trends for instore bakeries. A majority of our products are dairy-free. And you cook it for a long time at that steady temperature the beauty of sous vide is you have this meat cooking in its own juices at a precise temperature for consistency. Our culinary team led by Kevins co-founder Dan Cota - has decades of culinary experience and Dans roots are in the restaurant business. Content Copyright 2022, EWG. Now that Kevins has entered the retail grocery space, Supermarket Perimeter sat down with McCray for an exclusive Q and A on his vision and plans for his growing company. If I am contacting EWG on behalf of a company, by clicking "submit," I affirm that I have the authority to contact EWG on my company's behalf and to provide EWG permission to publicly disseminate all information provided. If its on the production floor, thats Dan., They would realize early on that they would have to manufacture their own product lines. There are no peanuts in any of our products, and no peanuts in our production facility. Does not contain artificial or industrial ingredients [read more], EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide to Avoiding GE Food, EWG's Shopper's Guide to Pesticide in Produce. Considers calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, sodium, protein, fiber and fruit, vegetable and nut content to differentiate between healthful and less healthful foods. White space doesnt stay white very long. Contains 34% of the Institute of Medicine's daily sodium (salt) recommendations based on adequate intake [read more], This product contains added sugar ingredients: Coconut Sugar [read more]. Instead, Kevin followed a simplebut not easyformula of increasing collaboration and nonstop listening. Food that smells bad. But there was no preventative medicine.. But the numbers are shocking., Now, more than a decade later, McCray says, Most people are really paying attention to what they put in their bodies, and at least have some aspiration to improve what theyre eating. LabelINSIGHT transcribes label information from product packaging pictures. Reimagining Customer Experiences In The Next Web: What Are The Big Questions Brands Should Ask To Create Value In Web3? Meat departments all over the country were adding higher quality options to their meat offerings, but we didnt see that trend making its way to the Prepare Meals. 2022 Forbes Media LLC. Everybody has a friend or a family member that has changed their life through eating better. Click here to learn more! The result is fork-tender, fully-cooked protein that is ready for you to heat and serve in less than 5 minutes. I happened to stumble on a paper about how the Paleo diet could be effective in reversing autoimmune disorders, McCray recalls. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our. Any additional pictures are suggested servings only. Want to achieve the kind of growth and success that Kevins Natural Food has? And so, you have raw chicken in a pouch. Copyright 2022 Media Solutions Corp. All rights reserved. See if its actually solving some problem. Consequently, our standards for quality are based on restaurant flavor. Higher quality oils and healthful sugar substitutes are all much more available, according to McCray. He started thinking strategically even while trusting his instincts. STOCKTON, CALIF. When Kevin McCray was in his 20s, an autoimmune disorder upended his life. It can get so confusing when it comes to expiration dates. A selection of our Recipe Sauces and Heat & Eat Sides are Vegetarian and Vegan-Friendly! And the first big breakthrough after we decided to focus on the center of the plate was stumbling on the sous vide technology We started with chicken breasts. See our price match guarantee. Kevins Natural Foods of Stockton, California seems like one of those classic near-overnight success stories of business legend and lore. July is an especially good month for enjoying all that summer has to offer. We went with aluminum for its superior ability to heat up fast and conduct heat evenly. Considers many factors, chief among them, modification of individual ingredients from whole foods and number of artificial ingredients. SP: How do you balance the need to create flavorful products with your commitment to clean, whole foods that are low in sugar? Sure is! Kevin's Natural Foods Korean BBQ-Style Chicken - 16oz, undefined out of 5 stars with undefined reviews, Tender chicken breast strips paired with a soy-free Bulgogi sauce made with coconut aminos, garlic, and toasted sesame seeds, Cage-free chicken raised without antibiotics, Paleo & Keto-Certified and Certified Gluten-Free, No refined sugars, artificial ingredients, or soy, 4 oz Paleo/Keto Korean BBQ sauce paired with 12 oz of sous-vide, fully-cooked chicken. Easy to prepare in just 5 minutes, these entres are a delicious, low-mess, guilt-free solution for a busy day. Then see how we can solve the problem better, and iterate.. He was in his 20sand suddenly in and out of hospital wards. Does collectivizing corporate interests make you vulnerable to risky competition? We do monthly focus groups heres what we do: Basically, we develop a hypothesis, put the product out there. Sign up to receive email updates, action alerts, healthy eating tips, promotions to support our work and more from EWG! No overnight success, after all. Its what theyre talking about at their quarterly meetings., But, says McCray, One of the first things I came to terms with was that the world doesnt need another food company thats trying to solve the problem in the same way as everybody else. He started a careful analysis of the industry, both the health and mainstream wings. However, no matter how healthy something is, it doesnt go to market unless it tastes amazing. You seal it. We worked extremely hard throughout the pandemic to accommodate all of the rapid growth (adding over 13,000 doors in the past 2 years), while not shorting a single order no matter how challenging the environment is. He summarizes: It was the only cooking technique we found that not only helped to give you the shelf life you need to make it through the supply chainbut it actually improved the quality of the meat So, that was process number one.. BEST IF USED BY (or BEFORE) is a date that refers to the taste and texture, not for purchase or safety. Accessed April 8, 2014: link. Learn about eating by color! The product score is based on weighted scores for nutrition, ingredient and processing concerns. In most stores, our entres are located in the Refrigerated Section of the Meat or Deli Department. Heres how it works: First, the meat is vacuum-sealed in a pouch and cooked in a hot water bath set to a precise temperature. Just by talking to the employees about the mission and living it every day and doing events together. And because its so easyespecially at a fast-growing startupto get wrapped up in the work because theres so much work, says McCray, every now and then, well sit back and say, Man, we havent done anything fun in a few months. At the end of the day, we want eating clean (and clean cooking) to take less time. It has to be dinner. Note: The presence or absence of genetically engineered ingredients or ingredients derived from GE crops does not affect a product's overall score. You have to earn your space.. -, Download our mobile app from the Apple Store, How-To Make Sense of Food Expiration Dates. SELL BY is the date that tells a store how long to display a product for sale on the shelf. He was in and out of hospitals, and conventional medicines werent helping. Our Paleo-Certified products avoid refined sugars, artificial flavors, grains, legumes, and dairy. So, I kind of had that natural inclination to want to share this knowledge with the world.. Its a powerful, big idea. And with this newfound motivation and newfound desire to eat healthy, we really wanted to change the world and affect the mainstream shopper. Tell us if the product name is misspelled. Eat clean without sacrificing flavor! If you have specific healthcare concerns or questions about the products displayed, please contact your licensed healthcare professional for advice or answers. Our goal was to change this. For more information on nutrition concerns, read our full methodology. Thank you. Protein is essential to health, but eating too much also carries an environmental and health cost. While on his way to earning a business degree at SDSU, he was hit with an auto-immune disordersevere, chronic, and intractable. Its easier nowadays to find clean and ethically sourced ingredients, part of the regenerative economy that is one destination of the clean eating movement. They built their brand With all their stakeholders. And if youre not sure whats right, consult your community. This story, he says, unfortunately, is becoming more common., Trounced and exhausted for five years, doctors ultimately homed in on what was happening, but not why. Every single one of our products is certified Gluten-Free by the Gluten Intolerance Group. This value is much lower than what the FDA requires be listed on food labels -- 2400 mg. McCray: Very strong. Summer is in full swing and each week brings fresh, mouthwatering new varieties of delicious summer produce. Note: The potential climate impact of a particular food is not factored into a product's overall score. Moldy food. If you see a product with an expired SELL BY date on a store shelf, you should not buy it. Check out what stores are close by. Eating too much of any type of sugar can lead to tooth decay. 2010. The category was completely void of better-for-you sides. We dont let anything go to market that would not be served at a high-end restaurant. Must be unused and in box. And then, thats all they can talk about. Not to worry, as part of our food safety protocol, they are segregated so that they are only present in items that list it on the label. The Rise Of The Customer Engagement Platform, Chocolove CEO Discusses Sustainability And Making A Lasting Impact, How Pressed Brings Fresh Juice And Health To Its Communities, A Conversation With: Elevance Healths Anil Bhatt On Human-Led Design + The New Era Of TechQuity, Prime Day 2022 Delivered Despite Macroeconomic Concerns. It cooks the same from end to end., Why was that extant French-invented cooking method employed by Michelin-star restaurants everywhere such an aha moment in Kevins origin story? Whats more, consumers would tell us that one of their biggest pet peeves with the current Prepared Foods offerings was bad bites. We took this insight very seriously and we set up robust trim lines and quality measures to ensure we exceeded expectations in this area. And it became an iterative process where it just built on itself. Especially after the COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the ways people shop for, purchase, and even eat food. It was only when McCray discovered the power of a clean diet rich in whole foods and free of refined sugars that he started to feel better. It didnt always look as though McCray would succeed to the extent he has. We loved that it was on the perimeter of the store, where health-conscious shoppers tend to spend a lot of time, and that was already known for convenience. Our 5-ingredient Homestyle Mashed Potatoes are made with just potatoes, ghee, heavy cream, sea salt and black pepper. This product contains a high percentage of the Institute of Medicine's recommended adequate intake for sodium of 1500 mg a day (IOM 2005). A Paleo/Keto-Certified soy-free Bulgogi sauce made with coconut aminos, garlic, and toasted sesame seeds, paired with fork-tender chicken breast that's cooked to perfection using a celebrated French cooking technique called sous-vide. Its multiple SKUs are sold in most major outlets such as Costco, Albertsons, Ralphs, Aldi, Food Lion, Hannafordand on Amazon. Our Keto-Certified products are designed to strictly limit carbohydrates to less than 2g per 0.5oz in accordance with the standards established by The Paleo Foundation. That was the origin of Kevins Natural Foods, which specializes in heat-and-eat meals and other foods that meet the strictest clean diet standards. Out of a USDA-certified production facility in Stockton, they make everything themselves under one roof., We started with the sous vide [vacuum sealed] chicken entres, and have expanded those lines to include beef and pork. It was an industry-wide communal situation. It is the only cooking method we could find that actually improved the quality of the meat entres while at the same making them more convenience for the shopper to prepare at home and extending the shelf life. Compared to other meats, chicken production generates the lowest amount of greenhouse gases. And if you freeze a perishable product, remember that once frozen, foods kept frozen continuously are safe indefinitely even if the date expires. I want to own that part because thats where a lot of damage is done in our diet., Whole Foods. How do we do it? You may opt-out by. Beyond the internal and retail partner collaborations, Kevins relies heavily on listening to the people at the end of its food chain. But you have to make that premium manageable just at that layer right above where the conventional is, and you can get there through effective manufacturing., After collaborating with each other, McCray and Costa looked to their staffnow numbering 250to guide the companys direction and aspects of its growth. Follow this author to improve your content experience. Wed do whatever it took. Target. Find our Sauces in the Grocery Aisle. We made it through the whole pandemic without putting anybody on allocation. This took flexibility in our operation and just not going home. Producer claimsantibiotics were only used to treat diseased animals under veterinary supervision, or complies with a less than rigorous certification system. And unless theres some overwhelming demand for something that is really going to make my life easier if you do thatwere just not going to make it.. Kevin McCray: We conducted dozens of focus groups as we were developing the offering and the brand.
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