Connor Blakley Jams founder
Jams
The traditional 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 following 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 might be accessible 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 stated. “We’ve no dyes, no synthetic flavors or colours, no excessive fructose corn syrup, and we have now essentially the most protein per ounce of any peanut butter and jelly that is presently available on the market.”
Smucker’s mum or dad firm J.M. Smucker, late final month stated it might remove artificial meals colours from all of its client meals merchandise by the top of 2027.
Jams is a barely bigger undertaking than the Smuckers choice, at a weight of 74 grams versus Uncrustables’ 58 grams. Blakley additionally stated his product has a decrease whole sugar content material, and every sandwich comprises 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 accessible in two flavors: strawberry and a combined berry choice.
The entrepreneur, who dropped out of highschool when he was 17, stated he has taste-tested greater than 250 iterations of PB&J sandwiches within the strategy of creating 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 stated it’s on observe to generate over a billion {dollars} in web gross sales by the top of fiscal 2026 from Uncrustables, noting that they’re the No. 1 product within the the full frozen class.
To help the rising demand, Smucker’s lately opened its third and largest Uncrustables manufacturing facility in McCalla, Alabama.
Blakley stated he believes the important thing marketplace for his sandwiches might be athletes.
NFL groups devour greater than 80,000 Uncrustables per 12 months 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 stated.
He attributed the success of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich to 2 issues: nostalgia and ease.
“I feel comfort is basically, actually a giant a part of why class has and can proceed to take off,” he stated.