INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In the world of nut butters, one variety has been conquering the competition: almond. The power-packed nut is full of vitamins and flavor, but many consumers can get lost in the ocean of options. Rachel Klein, founder of Revival Food Co. is setting her almond butter apart by giving it a delicious and nutritious superfood boost.
Klein spoke about her business’ story and strategy at the Almond Board of California’s Virtual Food Trends Showcase being held from June 15 to July 8. She dove into the process behind her low-sugar and superfood-filled product and her journey to success in the commercial food world.
Revival Food Co. began in 2012. Klein had been a competitive dancer for years and was relearning how to love healthy food after developing some disordered eating habits. She experimented with making homemade food like yogurt, bread and, of course, almond butter.
“With every almond butter I bought, I was disappointed,” Klein said. “I thought to myself, ‘I love almonds. Why does every almond butter I buy taste so bland?’ So, I just started making my own.”
She stayed away from added sugar and made it superfood-packed by adding ingredients such as maca, cocoa and chai. She gave small batches to friends and family, and in 2014 she gave out small jars of her almond butter as a gift to her wedding guests.
The response she received was overwhelmingly positive, and when she found herself between jobs, she took a chance and jumped into the local market. After having some strong regional success, she decided it was time to go big or go home and headed to the Natural Products Expo East in 2019.
A Walmart buyer jumped on her product for its unique flavors and health benefits, and now Revival is on the shelves in nearly 1,000 Walmart locations nationwide. Its online sales have also skyrocketed, growing 250% in the past 6 months due to organic social media growth, digital marketing campaigns and COVID-related consumer habits.
“With every almond butter I bought, I was disappointed,” Klein said. “I thought to myself, ‘I love almonds. Why does every almond butter I buy taste so bland?’ So, I just started making my own."
As Klein has taken her product from small batch to storefront, she identified several factors contributing to Revival’s success. The first is her brand’s commitment to keeping ingredients clean and functionally flavorful. Healthy flavor is something that millennial women and mothers are keeping their eyes peeled — and their wallets open — for. Eighty percent of millennials are purchasing artisan foods, according to the Specialty Food Association 2019 Industry Report, and there has been a 10.7% increase in specialty food sales since 2017. That’s almost 7% more growth than regular retail food sales.
Revival is also set apart by how many dietary lifestyles it meets. Its almond butters are Whole30-endorsed, keto-friendly, non-GMO, vegan and kosher.
Klein also checked another conscious consumption box by focusing on sustainability. She uses what she deems “happy almonds” — nuts that come from a third-generation family farm and are grown through a dual-drip watering system. This method cuts down on water waste that is common with almond farming.
This combination of health-forward, sustainable and unique attributes has proved to be a triple threat for Revival Food Co.
“I’m always innovating and love creating new flavors,” Klein said. “Anything is possible.”