Havlick added, "What started 13 years ago as a simple passion for fire roasting seeds and slow smoking meats, has grown into two terrific brands that are recognized in households across the U.S. Boulder, Colo.-based Thanasi Foods, parent of Duke's Jerky, founded by Justin "Duke" Havlick, has recently sold a stake to Encore Consumer Capital, according to the San Francisco-based PE firm's . Dukes Bourbon Glaze Steak Strips & Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro. - Justin "Duke" Havlick. Following the completion of the transaction, the Duke's and BIGS brands will continue operating out of Boulder, Colorado. This is the recipe that started it all. This is an incredibly exciting time for our brands and our team, and we are looking forward to working with the Conagra Brands team on the next chapter in our journey to take Dukes and BIGS to another level. Havlick continued, The Conagra Brands team values our brand beliefs and is committed to continuing to use quality ingredients and the craft methods that deliver the creativity and flavor our consumers and fans love today.. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members. The company says it will create 3,000 jobs at an average rate of $33.49 per hour and invest $3.6 billion into the economy. Their jerky is advertised to be made in small batches, and is smoked using real hardwoods, not "liquid lumber" in their words. The general rule of pairing beer and jerky is to start with the milder items and work your way up to the bolder flavors. View Justin "Duke" Havlick's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Conagra Brands, Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire protein-based snacking businesses Thanasi Foods LLC, maker of Duke's meat snacks, and BIGS LLC, maker of BIGS seeds. Company Founder and President Justin "Duke" Havlick is doing exactly what he loves to do: combining his love of food with his love of the outdoors (he lives in Boulder, CO, after all). We are looking forward to working with the Thanasi team to grow the brands further and create value for our shareholders.". Inc. I believe smoked meats should be made with real ingredients. This batch was freshly crafted with roasted hatch chiles. Havlick founded the company 13 years ago with investment from friends and family. Join Facebook to connect with Justin Duke and others you may know. It's not the easiest way to do things, or the quickest, but I think you'll agree you can taste the difference. Conagra Brands (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North Americas leading branded food companies. About a year ago, in late January, Hershey, Pa.-based confectionery giant Hershey (HSY) - Get Free Report acquired Sonoma, Calif.-based Krave Pure Foods Inc., the maker of Krave jerky products, for roughly nine times its revenue of $35 million, or more than $300 million. At Dukes Small Batch Smoked Meats,our jerky-obsessed company prides itself on the craft of making jerky. Justin 'Duke' Havlick of Duke's Jerky. Quick Facts . Hickory hardwood smoke: Smoked with 100% pure hickory wood for a deep, traditional smoke flavor. CAG) For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com. Made with a peach bbq relish. Justin "Duke" Havlick, Duke's and BIGS founder and chief executive officer, said, "What started 13 years ago as a simple passion for fire roasting seeds and slow smoking meats, has grown into. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. VLASIC PICKLES NAMED OFFICIAL PICKLE OF THE APP AND TITLE SPONSOR OF 2023 CINCINNATI TOURNAMENT, CONAGRA BRANDS ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF 2023 CAGNY CONFERENCE PRESENTATION WEBCAST. This unique combination creates a robust harmony between the herbal and spice notes of both beer and jerky. Based in Boulder, CO, BIGS produces a line of premium, USA-grown seed snacks, including jumbo, fire-roasted in-shell sunflower seeds, sunflower seed kernels, and homestyle-roasted pumpkin seeds. Duke's is a fast-growing premium meat snack brand, with products including Duke's Smoked ShortySausages and Duke's Steak & Brisket Strips. (NYSE: It's no wonder why hatch chiles have become famous through the decades. Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor and Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP served as legal counsel to Thanasi Foods LLC and BIGS LLC. Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Why are Dukes sausages recalled? dukesmeat.com. We begin with a simple blend of classic spices before adding chopped green Italian parsley and a touch of real . MEDIA: Dan Hare Fresh, never-frozen pork: We start with fresh, never froze, pork that has never been given added hormones (Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in pork). (function(){var ml="526481)(90-%",mi="73506;19182:8409",o="";for(var j=0,l=mi.length;j