Bear Naked
 | This article contains promotional content. (June 2022) |
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary of Kellogg Company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer Goods |
| Founded | 2002 Norwalk, Connecticut |
| Founder | Brendan Synnott and Kelly Flatley |
| Headquarters | La Jolla, California, U.S. |
| Products | Granola Oatmeal |
| Parent | Kellogg Company |
| Website | http://www.bearnaked.com/ |
Bear Naked is an all-natural food and lifestyle company that offers whole grain granolas, granola bites, and oatmeal. The company was launched in 2002 by entrepreneurs Kelly Flatley and Brendan Synnott. In 2007, Bear Naked was purchased by Kashi, a subsidiary of the Kellogg Company, one of the biggest food corporations in the United States.[1] Today, Bear Naked is based out of La Jolla, California.
History
Kelly Flatley and Brendan Synnott are the co-founders of Bear Naked granola. Flatley came up with the name – “bear” which evoked the outdoors, while “naked” implied the absence of additives. In college, Flatley made granola in her dorm room and shared it with friends. Flatley met Synnott in 2002 in Darien, Connecticut. Flatley was making her granola through the night and delivering it to local stores the next morning. They became business partners and began using a commercial kitchen. They were the only employees of the company at the time, so they created, distributed, and brokered the granola themselves. Initially, commercial distributors would not sell them raw materials, so they bought bulk from their local Costco. Synnott and Flatley pitched their products to organic and natural markets and increased the company's presence in stores. In 2003, Stew Leonard’s supermarket chain in New York picked up their granola, which helped pull the company into commercial success.[2][3]
Acquisition by Kellogg
In 2007, Flatley and Synnott were approached by Kashi, a subsidiary of the famous Kellogg Company. The partners sold Bear Naked for over $60 million. Flatley and Synnott stayed for a year to make a smooth transition to the new parent company. Today, Kellogg’s Kashi Co. organic unit manages the Bear Naked brand, from La Jolla, California. Today, Bear Naked is sold through Target, Whole Foods, Stop and Shop, Costco, Stew Leonard’s, and many other stores.[4]
Marketing
Design
For its initial design, Bear Naked used a logo with three slashes suggesting bear claw marks. They chose a bear symbol because of its appetite for nuts, fruit, and honey. After a redesign in 2015, “Kevin” the bear was introduced. He now appears on all packaging, social media, and the company website. He is said to give a welcoming bear hug to all new Bear Naked consumers. The new design uses orange, the signature color of Bear Naked's flagship Fruit and Nut granola. The color is meant to be energetic and targets millennials with active lives.[5]
Social Media
Bear Naked has a significant social media presence, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. Bear Naked’s slogan is “Feed Your Bear.” Their “Our Story” states that bears make all the decisions. They choose the ingredients, make new flavors, and taste every new batch of granola. Bear Naked claims that bears keep them genuine because their instincts always point them to the outdoors' high-quality food.[6]
Packaging
Bear Naked’s marketing strategy included presenting their product in cellophane, resealable pouch with a transparent window. They were one of the first companies to market their granola in plastic bags. At one point, a supermarket owner told them they needed to package their granola in a box. The company chose to keep the plastic bags to show the product to potential consumers.[7] In 2019, Bear Naked decided to take action on plastic waste. Their current stand-up pouch is made from 100% recyclable materials. Customers can drop off the used bags at certain retail locations.[8]
Products
All Bear Naked products are made with whole grains and contain no artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, trans fat, cholesterol, hydrated oils, or high-fructose corn syrup. All are vegetarian-friendly and kosher-certified.[6]
Granola
Classic Granola
- Banana Nut
- Cacao and Cashew
- Fruit & Nut
- Maple Pecan
- Peanut Butter
Bear Naked Granola Fit (Reduced Sugar)
- Vanilla Almond
- Triple Berry
- Peanut Butter Crunch
Gluten-Free and Grain Free
- Maple Cinnamon
- Chocolate Almond
Protein Granola
- Original Cinnamon
- Honey Almond
Granola bites
- Dark Chocolate Sea Salt (Chewy)
- Peanut Butter and Honey (Chewy)
- Honey Oat (Crunchy)
- Chocolate Chip (Crunchy)
Oatmeal
- Maple Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal and Crunchy Granola Topper
- Fruit and Nut Steel Cut Oatmeal and Crunchy Granola Topper
Nutritional Facts
Below are the nutritional facts for their flagship product, Bear Naked Classic Granola Fruit and Nut.[6]
Servings Per Container About 5
Serving Size 1/2 Cup (60 g)
| Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 270 | |
| Amount/Serving | % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat | 12 g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 3 g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0 g | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.5 g | |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5 g | |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 39 g | 14% |
| Dietary Fiber | 5 g | 18% |
| Total Sugars | 13 g | |
| Includes 10g Added Sugars | 10 g | 20% |
| Protein | 6 g | |
| Vitamin D | 0 mcg | 0% |
| Calcium | 30 mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1.8 mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 190 mg | 4% |
| Phosphorus | 10% | |
| Magnesium | 15% | |
| Zinc | 10% | |
See also
References
- ^ "Bear Naked". Cornucopia Institute. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
- ^ "Kelly Flatley & Brendan Synnott". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ "Bear Naked's growth: Stew Leonard to $65M - Feb. 6, 2008". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ CT), News-Times, The (Danbury (2007-11-26). "Kellogg swallows up Norwalk granola maker". NewsTimes. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Bear Naked". Ptarmak. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ a b c "Bear Naked". Bear Naked. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ Sherman, Ruth (2007-10-17). "Leadership: Bear Naked Entrepreneurship". Fast Company. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
- ^ "Kellogg's Bear Naked Granola Brand Develops First Ever 100% Recyclable Cereal Pouch". Green Queen. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2022-04-18.