Connor Blakley Jams founder
Jams
The basic peanut butter and jelly sandwich is getting a modern-day improve and backing from some prime athletes.
Jams, a brand new firm created by 26-year-old Connor Blakley, launched Monday and hopes to tackle Smucker’s Uncrustables as the subsequent locker room and lunch field staple. Like Uncrustables, the sandwiches fall within the frozen meals class.
Backed by names like U.S. soccer legend Alex Morgan and NFL Professional Bowlers C.J. Stroud and Micah Parsons, Jams will likely be obtainable completely at 3,000 Walmart shops nationwide.
Uncrustables has dominated the market with a close to PB&J monopoly, however Blakley is hoping to distinguish his merchandise by interesting to health-conscious shoppers.
“No. 1 is it is no seed oils,” he mentioned. “We now have no dyes, no synthetic flavors or colours, no excessive fructose corn syrup, and we now have essentially the most protein per ounce of any peanut butter and jelly that is at the moment available on the market.”
Smucker’s guardian firm J.M. Smucker, late final month mentioned it will take away artificial meals colours from all of its client meals merchandise by the tip of 2027.
Jams is a barely bigger mission than the Smuckers choice, at a weight of 74 grams versus Uncrustables’ 58 grams. Blakley additionally mentioned his product has a decrease whole sugar content material, and every sandwich incorporates 10 grams of protein.
Walmart additionally shares Uncrustables at a $4.34 value level. Jams will value barely extra at $5.97 per field.
Jams will initially be obtainable in two flavors: strawberry and a blended berry choice.
The entrepreneur, who dropped out of highschool when he was 17, mentioned he has taste-tested greater than 250 iterations of PB&J sandwiches within the strategy of growing Jams. The sandwiches are manufactured in Ohio and Wisconsin.
However Blakley has a steep hill to climb.
In its most up-to-date earnings name in June, J.M. Smucker mentioned it’s on monitor to generate over a billion {dollars} in web gross sales by the tip of fiscal 2026 from Uncrustables, noting that they’re the No. 1 product within the the entire frozen class.
To assist the rising demand, Smucker’s lately opened its third and largest Uncrustables manufacturing facility in McCalla, Alabama.
Blakley mentioned he believes the important thing marketplace for his sandwiches will likely be athletes.
NFL groups eat greater than 80,000 Uncrustables per yr as a rising variety of groups and athletes look for a quick, handy and filling snack, in keeping with a 2024 report by The Athletic.
“Athletes need to get the absolute best merchandise to gasoline their physique and way of life,” Blakley mentioned.
He attributed the success of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich to 2 issues: nostalgia and ease.
“I feel comfort is absolutely, actually a giant a part of why class has and can proceed to take off,” he mentioned.
