About Us – Jack & Friends

JACK_&FRIENDSBELIEVESININCLUSIVITY—ESPECIALLYWHENITCOMESTOFOOD.WEARECOMMITTEDTOCRAFTINGPRODUCTSYOUCANFEELGOODABOUTEATING,REGARDLESSOFYOURLIFESTYLEOR__DIET,_SOYOUCANENJOYFOODWITHOUTCOMPROMISINGONQUALITY.

[Shop now

INGREDIENTS

Two__ingredients__form__the__foundation__of__Jack_&__Friends®_and__are__responsible__for__our__vegan__jerky’s__ability__to__mimic__the__texture__and__appearance__of__real__meat:jackfruitandpea****protein.

JACKFRUIT

Jackfruit is a fruit grown and popularized in Southeast Asia that is proving to be a versatile food ingredient because of its neutral flavor, white color, and meaty texture when unripe. It contains a large amount of minerals and fiber, making it nutritionally favorable as well.

Pea Protein

Pea protein is a hypoallergenic and vegan alternative to soy, wheat, and dairy proteins, which are three of the nine major allergens. Despite being derived from plants, it is a complete protein, meaning it contains each of the nine essential amino acids necessary in the human diet.

The Flavor punch

While jackfruit and pea protein create our jerky’s texture, additional ingredients are used to develop flavor. In our flagship Jack & Tom jerky, tomatoes, poblano peppers, and a signature blend of spices pack each bite with bold, savory flavor and a spicy kick that keeps you coming back for more.

INGREDIENTS

The foundation

Two ingredients form the foundation of Jack & Friends® and are responsible for our vegan jerky’s ability to mimic the texture and appearance of real meat: jackfruit and pea protein.

JACKFRUIT

Pea Protein

The Flavor punch

The Foundation

Jackfruit

Pea Protein

The Flavor Punch

Nutrition

Jack_&__Friends®__is__always__conscientious__of__its__consumers,__including__their__health.__That’s__why__we__designed__our__jerky__to__provide__as__many__benefits__as__possible__through__both__the__inclusion__and__exclusion__of__specific__ingredients.__Although__jackfruit__and__pea__protein__play__important__roles__in__developing__texture,_they__also__qualify__our__product__to__be__a__good__source__of__fiber__and__protein.

The__friends

The "jack"

Jack & Friends® draws its inspiration from the very ingredients used to create it. As the foundation of our plant-based jerky, it seemed only right to honor jackfruit with the permanent place in our name—the “Jack.”

The "jack"

So who are Jack's friends?

These are the flavors that make our jackfruit jerky taste great. Jack & Tom is Tomato & Poblano Pepper, Jack & Barb is Sweet Barbecue, and Jack & Teri is Ginger Teriyaki.

Nutrition

Jack & Friends® is always conscientious of its consumers, including their health. That’s why we designed our jerky to provide as many benefits as possible through both the inclusion and exclusion of specific ingredients. Although jackfruit and pea protein play important roles in developing texture, they also qualify our product to be a good source of fiber and protein.

Lifehasenoughtoughchoices

choosingwhattoeatshouldbeeasy

Whether__you’re__aveganfitnessenthusiast****in_need__of__plant-based__protein,_anoverworked****analyst_looking__for__convenient__desk__snacks,_ahealth-conscious****student_buying__fuel__for__study__sessions,_aparentpurchasingfood_for__an__allergen-sensitive__family,_oranyoneinbetween,we__want__to__be__your__solution.

[Learn more

OUR__FOUNDER

Curious__about__the__woman__behind__Jack_&__Friends?__Read__the__story__of__our__founder,__Jessica__Kwong,_to__learn__about__her__background__in__food__science__and__why__she__decided__to__become__an__entrepreneur__as__a__22-year-old__fresh__out__of__university.

Meet__Jessica

Jessica Kwong

OUR__FOUNDER

Meet__Jessica

Jessica__Kwong

_Jessica’s__background__is__a__bit__less__traditional__than__most__food__entrepreneurs.__She__graduated__from__Cornell__University__in__2018__with__a__degree__in__food__science__after__studying__technical__disciplines,__winning__national__and__international__product__development__competitions,__and__conducting__R&D__for__food__companies__ranging__from__small__startups__to__multi-billion__dollar__corporations.__She__has__developed__countless__products:__everything__from__yogurt__to__baby__food__to__baked__goods.__As__a__senior,__Jessica__had__a__difficult__decision__to__make—accept__a__full-time__return__offer__from__one__of__the__world’s__largest__snack__companies__or__pursue__her__own__entrepreneurial__venture.__Passionate__about__crafting__food__inclusive__of__different__lifestyles,Jessica__declined__the__offer__to__pursue__Jack&_Friends__and__innovate__products__that__fulfill__her__brand’s__self-created__mission.

Since launching Jack & Friends’ jerky in March 2019, Jessica continues to manage and grow the company while based in New York. Listen and read more about her journey in these interviews: Vegan Startup Podcast, ContenderCast, and Fem Founder.

Jessica’s background is a bit less traditional than most food entrepreneurs. She graduated from Cornell University in 2018 with a degree in food science after studying technical disciplines, winning national and international product development competitions, and conducting R&D for food companies ranging from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations. She has developed countless products: everything from yogurt to baby food to baked goods.

As a senior, Jessica had a difficult decision to make—accept a full-time return offer from one of the world’s largest snack companies or pursue her own entrepreneurial venture. Passionate about crafting food inclusive of different lifestyles, Jessica declined the offer to pursue Jack & Friends and innovate products that fulfill her brand’s self-created mission.

2017

October

Jessica turns down an offer for a full-time R&D position at Mondelez International to pursue Jack & Friends

2018

May

Jessica graduates from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in food science and starts working as a full-time founder

2019

March

Jack & Friends soft launches its first flavor of jackfruit jerky, Jack & Tom, exclusively on its website

April

Jack & Friends is stocked in its first ever retailer!

August

The New York Times features Jack & Friends’ jerky–the company’s first major press hit!

April

Jack & Friends is stocked in its first ever retailer!

August

The New York Times features Jack & Friends’ jerky–the company’s first major press hit!

March

Jack & Friends soft launches its first flavor of jackfruit jerky, Jack & Tom, exclusively on its website

April

Jack & Friends is stocked in its first ever retailer!

August

The New York Times features Jack & Friends’ jerky–the company’s first major press hit!

March

Jack & Friends soft launches its first flavor of jackfruit jerky, Jack & Tom, exclusively on its website

April

Jack & Friends is stocked in its first ever retailer!

2020

June

Jack & Friends debuts its full set of three jackfruit jerky flavors: Jack & Tom, Jack & Barb, and Jack & Teri

2023

September

Jack & Friends launches its brand refresh—same great product and name with a totally new visual identity

Shop all friends & flavors

[Shop now

Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
Opens in a new window.

shop.app

shop.app is blocked