Expansion of Jesse & Ben's Beef Tallow French Fries Retail Presence Boosted by Successful Major Seed Investment
Jesse & Ben's French fries have made a splash in the food industry, gaining popularity for their simple, real ingredients and better-for-you cooking fats. The brand, founded by Jesse Konig and Ben Johnson, has seen remarkable growth and expansion in major grocery store chains, setting them apart from conventional options.
Focus on Product Differentiators
Jesse & Ben's French fries are made with just three simple ingredients, most notably, beef tallow, and Russet potatoes, keeping the skin on for taste and accessibility. The fries are three-eighths of an inch thick and are twice-fried, resulting in a mashed-potatoey, pillowy interior with an ideal crispy outer layer. The product is seed oil free, appealing to health-conscious consumers seeking cleaner labels.
Strategic Funding and Expansion
The brand's rapid growth can be attributed to strategic funding. In its first year in business, Jesse & Ben's closed a second multi-million dollar round, and raised a 7-figure total seed round, with contributions from Willow Growth Partners, Siddhi Capital, and grt sht ventures. This capital has enabled the scaling of production, marketing, and distribution to major grocery chains.
Founders' Background and Brand Story
Jesse Konig, co-founder and CEO, leveraged his experience from a food truck and brick-and-mortar operations to build a brand focused on restaurant-quality fries for home consumption. This credibility and appeal with retailers and customers alike has been instrumental in Jesse & Ben's success.
Market Timing and Consumer Trends
With rising consumer demand for simpler, healthier frozen products, Jesse & Ben’s carefully positioned product filled a niche in clean-label frozen fries. This, coupled with their focus on high-quality retailers like Whole Foods Market, Fresh Thyme Market, and Sprouts Farmers Market, has helped them gain placements in stores known for health-focused and natural foods.
Expansion and Future Prospects
Jesse & Ben's French fries are now available in all Whole Foods Market, Fresh Thyme Market, and Sprouts Farmers Market locations, and are also about to be available on Thrive Market's online marketplace. The brand is predicting upwards of 30 times year-over-year growth by the end of 2025. In July 2025 alone, Jesse & Ben's brought in more revenue than all of 2024.
The beef tallow used in Jesse & Ben's fries comes from 100% grass-fed, grass-finished farms, further emphasising the brand's commitment to clean, natural ingredients. As the demand for better-for-you food options continues to grow, Jesse & Ben's is well-positioned to lead the way in the frozen fries market.
- In their expansion strategy, Jesse & Ben's French fries are now available in all Whole Foods Market, Fresh Thyme Market, and Sprouts Farmers Market locations, as well as on Thrive Market's online marketplace.
- Leveraging strategic funding, the brand has experienced significant growth, with the founding duo, Jesse Konig and Ben Johnson, raising a 7-figure total seed round, which facilitated the scaling of production, marketing, and distribution to major grocery chains.
- The financial success of Jesse & Ben's French fries is indicative of their commitment to providing healthier, clean-label frozen fries, as they continue to cater to the growing demand for better-for-you food options, using ingredients like avocado oil and grass-fed beef tallow.
