Husband-and-wife founders earn access to up to 12 distribution centers through one of North America’s largest natural and specialty food distributors
AUSTIN, TX (March 2026) – BEEST Snacks, an Austin-based high-protein snack company founded by husband-and-wife team Lucas Prado and Nicole Ruiz, has been selected as a 2026 KeHE Trend Finder Golden Ticket winner. The award grants BEEST a fast track to nationwide distribution through KeHE Distributors (kehe.com), one of the largest natural and specialty food distributors in North America.
As part of the Golden Ticket program, BEEST Snacks will launch across up to 12 KeHE distribution centers at no charge through the New@KeHE program, which introduces new items to the company’s independent retail channel. Select Golden Ticket winners may also be identified for KeHE elevate™, a two-year incubator program for emerging brands that has supported companies such as Magic Spoon and Evive.
BEEST Snacks produces Crunchy Jerky Chips and Charcuterie Trail Mix using a patent-pending manufacturing process that yields a chip-like crunch rather than the chewy texture typical of traditional jerky. The crunch has been verified through acoustic laboratory testing. Crunchy Beef Jerky Chips deliver 48g of protein with 230 calories and 0g of sugar per bag with three ingredients: beef, lime juice and spices. Crunchy Pork Jerky Chips deliver 46g of protein with 220 calories and 0g of sugar. The Charcuterie Trail Mix combines Crunchy Jerky Chips with Parmesan cheese crisps and roasted almonds for 52g of protein, 0g of added sugar, and 7g of fiber per bag.
“Coming from a family with diabetes, finding a satisfying, crunchy snack with clean ingredients has always been personal for me,” said Lucas Prado, CEO and co-founder of BEEST Snacks. “Winning the Golden Ticket validates what we’ve been building and opens a real path to get these products in front of the consumers who need them.”
“We’ve iterated on this product for years, from a family recipe to a university thesis to a business we scaled in South America,” said Nicole Ruiz, COO and co-founder. “Every version taught us something. The format we have now is the one that’s winning over buyers and consumers, and we’re ready to scale it.”
Both co-founders are industrial engineers who previously operated a food production facility in South America for eight years. BEEST launched in the U.S. market in July 2025 and relaunched in January 2026 after iterating on its product format based on consumer feedback. The company is bootstrapped and based in Austin, Texas.
BEEST Snacks products are currently available through beestsnacks.com and select independent retailers in Austin, Texas. For wholesale, distribution, or press inquiries, contact [email protected].
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About BEEST Snacks
BEEST Snacks is redefining what real food can deliver in high-protein snacking. Founded by Lucas Prado and Nicole Ruiz, BEEST makes Crunchy Jerky Chips and Charcuterie Trail Mix with clean ingredients, no added sugar, and a patent-pending process that yields an unrivaled crunch and nutritional value. Learn more at beestsnacks.com or follow @beestsnacks on Instagram and LinkedIn.
About KeHE Distributors
KeHE Distributors is one of the largest natural and specialty food distributors in North America, serving over 30,000 retail outlets across the United States and Canada. KeHE is a Certified B Corporation. Learn more at kehe.com.
Contact: Lucas Prado, CEO & Co-Founder
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (512) 903-5939
Website: beestsnacks.com