A fast-growing Chicago food startup just landed a deal with online grocery retailer Peapod to bring its healthy snack chips to more customers.
Peapod announced that Quevos has won its annual "Next Best" competition, a contest that spotlights Chicago-based food entrepreneurs. Quevos received a one-year distribution deal with Peapod, making its product available to more than 100,000 households across Chicago, Indianapolis and Milwaukee.
Quevos has created a snack chip made from egg whites. The chip is low carb, gluten free and high in protein. Each bag has 10 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and 2-3 net carbs, and comes in flavors like Sweet Barbeque, Cracked Black Pepper and Quevos Rancheros.
Last March, the startup won the University of Chicago's College New Venture Challenge, taking home the first place prize and $15,000. It was also one of five accepted into Kraft Heinz’s Springboard, an incubator program that helps food entrepreneurs turn their businesses into thriving CPG brands.
Quevos founders Nick Hamburger and Zach Schreier dropped out of UChicago to work on the company full time, and are among a growing group of promising food startups in Chicago. The city is home to startup success stories like Skinny Pop and RXBAR, as well as fast-growing brands like Simple Mills and Prommus Hummus.
Peapod named Quevos the winner last week after its competition was narrowed down from 20 food entrepreneurs. The results were announced on Windy City LIVE.
"The competition was intense, and contestants took inventiveness to a whole new level by creating unique variations of some of our favorite indulgences," Tony Stallone, VP of Merchandising at Peapod, said in a statement. "However, Nick and Zach created a product with a level of innovation that blew us all away. They came with a compelling story and exuded a level of passion and commitment that's impressive."
