Kudo CEO Ryan Lewis and NBA legend “Downtown” Fred Brown join Rick to discuss KUDO’s protein-powered snacks and nutritional gummies. Kudo products are non-GMO, gluten-free and created to help health-conscious consumers snack (and supplement) without guilt.

Kudo, The Good Conscience Snack Co., entered the functional foods market in 2022 with a product line that features 100 percent whole grain kettle-popped protein popcorn, protein “krisps” and nutritional gummies.

Functional foods are whole, fortified, enriched or enhanced foods that provide health benefits beyond the provision of essential nutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals). It’s an industry that was valued at $189 billion globally in 2021 and is projected to reach $285 billion in 2030, according to research by Spherical Insights & Consulting.

Founder and CEO Ryan Lewis created Kudo to address a gap he found in the snacking marketplace.

“Healthy snacking always seemed like a never-ending obstacle. There just didn’t seem to be any good options that were healthy, convenient and great tasting,” Lewis said.

He had already launched two successful start-ups in the supplement and food industry before landing on the idea of infusing a perennially favorite snack — popcorn — with protein.

“I’ve never been more excited about a line of products,” Lewis said. “These products taste good. Without that, all the nutrients in the world won’t sell a product.”

NBA legend Fred Brown joined the Kudo team as a board member and adviser after meeting with Lewis and learning about his product.

“This company has a product offering that first and foremost tastes great, but secondly, each product has its own unique disruptive advantage, from boosting protein, to being sugar free, to promoting relaxation and sleep,” Brown said.

Ryan Lewis is a former collegiate athlete and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the supplement and food industry. He started two companies that have combined revenues of over $350 million. He is a two-time President’s Award recipient for a billion dollar company and has been recognized as the co-founder of a Top 100 direct sales company during four consecutive years by Business for Home. He also holds a Master’s in Business Administration and has experience opening in more than 25 global markets, including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada and Mainland China.

Fred Brown retired from the Bank of America (formerly Seafirst Bank) after 15 years of service. As a Senior Vice President with the bank, Brown managed a team in the Northwest Small Business Banking Group. He served as a member of the bank’s Leadership Team in Washington, as well as the bank’s national committee for diversity. Prior to joining Bank of America, he was Vice President of Marketing for the 1990 Goodwill Games. A color commentator for Channel 13 in Seattle for Pac-10 basketball, Brown played with the NBA’s Seattle Supersonics from 1971-1984. Brown was the first player taken by the Sonics in the 1971 NBA draft and was the sixth player taken overall.

For more information, please visit www.kudosnacks.com.