About Sponsor:

TOP Chops Jerky was founded in 2013 by Dusty Jaquins. After a couple years of developing recipes and gaining proof of concept by selling to convenience stores and independent markets in North Georgia, Dusty decided to work with a couple of college students, and together they decided to take what was just a hobby and turn it into a nationwide snack company. Today, TOP Chops manufactures a range of jerky snacks using only USDA Select or better beef and all-natural ingredients with no preservatives. Along the way, TOP Chops was awarded a fellowship at the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute because of the market potential envisioned by the leadership of the Institute. TOP Chops was also accepted into the inaugural class of the Chobani Food Incubator. Throughout this six-month incubation program, the team worked with Chobani staff to gain insight and mentorship from its sales, marketing, PR, product development and quality assurance teams. TOP Chops has also partnered with Culinex, a premier food science company to enhance its recipes. Culinex was tasked with maintaining TOP Chops' flavor profiles while using different and healthier ingredients, while maintaining the same texture and tender nature of its jerky. TOP Chops has grown into a national brand with an increased retail footprint that includes major retailers such as Albertsons, Safeway, Ralphs, Raley's, Roche Bros, Target, Costco NE and online at Amazon. TOP Chops is in the process of vertically integrating its operations and is currently completing a new facility in Georgia, where it will be producing its own products instead of utilizing the services of co-packers.