Joe Oblas, Co-CEO of Stryve Biltong, joined People. Process. Service.™️ to discuss his company’s mission to bring people healthier snacks. The product is Biltong, a high protein, low sugar snack made from a centuries-old process of drying and preserving meat that originated in South Africa. The product may seem similar, but it is anything but beef jerky. One instant convert was co-host, Bill Kasko, President and CEO of Frontline Source Group. Kasko had a bag of Biltong with him in the studio, and after a few bites of Biltong, he wasn’t sharing with anyone.

Oblas’ excitement about Biltong stems from the fact it is a snack that is healthy. Biltong doesn’t contain all of the processed sugar and additives similar meat-based snacks have. It’s high protein, with minimal processing, air-dried, and not cooked. “You rarely find a product that is truly good for you,” said Oblas. “Name another snack that is actually healthy for you. It’s really a challenge.”

How did Oblas begin his entrepreneurial journey? Oblas and his friends, at 12 years of age, bought and sold baseball cards at card conventions. Shortly after graduating college, Oblas and friends started a successful fruit smoothie chain. As he grew his business and needed capital to expand, Oblas learned a harsh lesson in moving away from doing the things that made his company successful in the first place. A re-branding effort, with no research, testing, led to plummeting sales and the end of the venture. But Oblas took this lesson to heart and used it as a reminder to be true to the mission of the future company’s he went on to start. “A combination for success is a competent entrepreneur teamed up with very experienced complementary pieces,” said Oblas.

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