BranchOut Food Welcomes Jesse Thomas as Chief Brand Officer to Drive Direct-to-Consumer and Brand Strategy

Rhea-AI Summary

BranchOut Food (NASDAQ: BOF) has appointed Jesse Thomas as Chief Brand Officer to lead the company's brand and marketing strategy, focusing on expanding direct-to-consumer (DTC) business. Thomas, former Founder & CEO of Picky Bars, brings experience in scaling DTC brands, having grown Picky Bars to a 10,000+ subscriber base before its $12M acquisition by Laird Superfood.

Thomas will focus on building BranchOut's DTC website, expanding product presence on Amazon, developing email subscription programs, and launching a wholesale portal for independent retailers. The company, known for its patented GentleDry™ dehydration technology, aims to complement its existing retail, private label, and industrial ingredient channels.

BranchOut expects to be cash flow positive starting this quarter and projects $9 million in revenue in H1 2025.

Positive

• Appointment of successful DTC executive with proven track record (10,000+ subscribers, $12M exit)
• Company expects to become cash flow positive this quarter
• Projected revenue of $9M for H1 2025
• Multi-million-dollar commitments secured from retailers and ingredient buyers

Negative

• None.

Insights

Strategic Growth Analyst

The appointment of Jesse Thomas as Chief Brand Officer marks a pivotal strategic shift for BranchOut Food, signaling an aggressive push into the high-margin direct-to-consumer space. Thomas's experience in scaling Picky Bars to a $12M exit demonstrates his capability to build successful DTC brands in the competitive health snack sector.

Several key strategic elements make this appointment particularly significant:

• The combination of BranchOut's proprietary GentleDry™ technology with Thomas's DTC expertise creates a unique competitive advantage in the premium snack market, where product differentiation and direct consumer relationships are important for success.
• The planned multi-channel strategy (DTC, wholesale, private label) enables efficient inventory management and risk diversification while maximizing market penetration.
• Thomas's background as an elite athlete adds authenticity to the brand's positioning in the performance nutrition space, potentially reducing customer acquisition costs through enhanced brand credibility.

The company's projection of $9M in revenue for H1 2025 and imminent cash flow positivity suggests strong unit economics, essential for sustainable DTC growth. The focus on subscription models indicates a strategic push toward predictable, recurring revenue streams, which typically command higher valuations in the consumer goods sector.

This strategic move positions BranchOut to capitalize on the growing trend of direct-to-consumer food brands, while their GentleDry™ technology provides a defensible moat in terms of product quality and shelf stability - important factors for successful e-commerce operations in the perishable goods category.

E-commerce Expansion and Brand Acceleration to Drive New Revenue Streams and Maximize Market Penetration

Key Focus Areas for Jesse Thomas:

• Build & Launch BranchOut’s DTC Website
• Expand Product Line onto Amazon & other DTC Platforms
• Develop & Grow Email Subscription Program
• Launch Wholesale Portal for Independent Retailers
• Oversee Digital Advertising & Social Media Strategy
  

BEND, Ore., Feb. 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BranchOut Food Inc. (NASDAQ: BOF), a pioneer in the patented GentleDry™ dehydration technology, today announces the appointment of Jesse Thomas as its Chief Brand Officer. In this role, Thomas will lead the company’s brand and marketing strategy, with a particular focus on expanding BranchOut’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) business, complementing its rapidly growing branded retail, private label and industrial ingredient channels.

Thomas, best known as the Founder & CEO of Picky Bars, brings a proven track record of scaling DTC brands from concept to acquisition. Under his leadership, Picky Bars became a household name in the health and performance snack space, growing a 10,000+ subscriber base and establishing a multimillion-dollar e-commerce business that culminated in its $12M acquisition by Laird Superfood.

As BranchOut continues its rapid retail expansion in warehouse clubs, major grocery chains, and ingredient markets, Thomas will spearhead high-margin, recurring revenue streams in e-commerce, subscription models, and direct brand engagement.

Beyond his business acumen, Thomas is an accomplished professional athlete, having competed as an elite triathlete and Ironman champion. His deep connection to performance nutrition, active lifestyles, and consumer engagement has shaped his approach to brand building and DTC. This background makes him uniquely positioned to drive BranchOut’s mission of delivering nutrient-dense, clean-label snacks that support active and health-conscious consumers.

Eric Healy, CEO of BranchOut Food, expressed enthusiasm about the new hire: "Jesse’s proven track record in building and scaling DTC brands is exactly what we need as we expand our direct-to-consumer presence. His ability to connect with consumers, craft compelling brand narratives, and drive growth through digital channels will be instrumental in our next phase of expansion."

Thomas’s leadership will enhance BranchOut’s marketing strategy, helping to bring its cutting-edge GentleDry™ dehydrated snacks to a broader audience. As a pioneer in food innovation, BranchOut is leading the market with first-to-market, high-quality snack products made possible by its proprietary GentleDry™ technology. With a growing wholesale footprint and an exciting opportunity in DTC, the company is poised to redefine the shelf-stable snack category with superior taste, texture, and nutrition.

"I’m thrilled to join the BranchOut team and help take the brand to the next level," said Thomas. "BranchOut’s breakthrough technology and commitment to creating best-in-class, high-quality snack products make this an exciting opportunity. I look forward to building a powerful direct-to-consumer channel that complements its already strong wholesale business."

With multi-million-dollar commitments already in place from top retailers, ingredient buyers, and private label partners, BranchOut is positioned for sustained, high-margin revenue growth across all channels. As mentioned in our January 15 press release, BranchOut remains on track to being cash flow positive starting this quarter and reaching $9 million in revenue in H1 2025.

About BranchOut Food Inc.

BranchOut Food is a leading international food technology company, specializing in the production of high-quality dehydrated fruit and vegetable-based products through its proprietary GentleDry Technology. This next-generation dehydration method preserves up to 95% of the original nutrition of fresh produce, offering superior quality and taste. Protected by over 17 patents, BranchOut’s technology enables it to stand out as a trusted brand, ingredient and a private-label supplier. For more information, visit www.branchoutfood.com or follow us on social media here.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified using words such as "forecast," "intend," "seek," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate", "plan," “position”, "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements with respect to the operations of BranchOut Food, Inc., (the Company) strategies, prospects and other aspects of the business of the Company are based on current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Although it may voluntarily do so from time to time, the Company undertakes no commitment to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Investor Relations Contact:

Jeff Ramson, CEO

PCG Advisory, Inc.

jramson@pcgadvisory.com

FAQ

What is BranchOut Food's (BOF) revenue projection for H1 2025?

BranchOut Food projects revenue of $9 million for the first half of 2025.

When does BranchOut Food (BOF) expect to become cash flow positive?

BranchOut Food expects to become cash flow positive starting in Q1 2025.

What was Jesse Thomas's achievement at Picky Bars before joining BOF?

Jesse Thomas grew Picky Bars to over 10,000 subscribers and led the company to a $12M acquisition by Laird Superfood.

What are the key DTC initiatives planned by BOF's new Chief Brand Officer?

The key initiatives include building a DTC website, expanding to Amazon, developing email subscription programs, launching a wholesale portal, and overseeing digital advertising and social media strategy.

How will BOF's new Chief Brand Officer appointment impact its business model?

The appointment aims to expand BOF's direct-to-consumer business, creating high-margin recurring revenue streams through e-commerce and subscription models, complementing existing retail and ingredient channels.