Business View Magazine | February 2018

130 131 es. In 2017, the brand had retail sales of almost $100 million, and its products can be found in most major grocery outlets and convenience stores across America. “You can prettymuch find us everywhere,” Silvestro says.The company now offers an extensive line of products, including hand-crafted steak, chicken, turkey and pork jerkies, Snack Sticks,Meat Bars and Protein Snack Packs. “The landscape has completely changed,”Silvestro avers.“Jerky is now considered a great, lean source of protein that people can incorporate into their diets. So,we’re launching a new product called a Protein Snack Pack. Envision a Dole Fruit Cup-like container, split down the middle and divided into two com- partments.On one side, you have one of our tender jerkies, either teriyaki turkey or original beef, and on the other side you have 100 percent, all natural cheese crisps, which have been dehydrated using a proprietary process. It’s an on-the-go pack that’s shelf-stable.You can throw it in your backpack, suitcase, or briefcase and have a great, healthy snack with about 13 or 14 grams of protein.” In a crowded marketplace, Silvestro believes that Chef’s Cut has some clear advantages.“There are attributes of our product that make us superior to what’s out there today,”he states.“First and fore- most,we’re gluten-free, nitrite-free, and MSG-free.We’re lower in sugar and sodium than most of the jerkies on the market. So, there’s definitely a difference, and you can taste it as soon as you put it in your mouth. CHEF’S CUT REAL JERKY CO.