Blue Stripes morphs cacao waste into a superfood snack
The founder discusses the company's mission to turn discarded material into BFY bites
Consumers often expect a lot from a simple fruit snack—they want to spend their shopping dollars on a product that tastes good, is good for them, and also does good (for people, and the planet). Blue Stripes, a brand producing fruit gummies using whole cacao pods, aims for the intersection of those three demands with its treats. To learn more, we connected with Oded Brenner, founder and CEO.
Jenni Spinner: Could you please tell me a little bit about how Blue Stripes got started—how did the idea come about, how did you take the concept from that initial idea to retail launch, etc.?
Oded Brenner: I was the creator of Max Brenner, a global chocolate bar restaurant chain. As I explored the chocolate industry, I became more knowledgeable about the raw fruit of cacao, eventually discovering the remarkable, often overlooked nutrients hidden within the cacao pod as a whole–even in the shell alone! From there, the concept of Blue Stripes was born.
I searched for cacao factories everywhere, including Colombia and Peru, but ultimately settled on Ecuador, where I discovered a process in which pasteurization didn't kill the taste and nutrients of the cacao water. Moreover, our whole cacao products are made from the single-origin Ecuadorian Arriba Nacional Cacao, considered to be the most premium and delicious cacao in the world.
In Ecuador, I learned about upcycling, the intricate art of depulping, and the endless ways to optimize all parts of the cacao from Ecuadorian artisans. This experience opened my eyes to how little people understand about the cacao superfruit and the many diverse and delicious ways it can be utilized.
JS: Please tell us about the upcycled component of the product—what are the benefits of reclaiming that cacao pod material (for the environment, and for consumers)?
OB: As of January 2026, Blue Stripes has:
- Upcycled 2 million lbs of cacao fruit
- Avoided 158 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
- Equivalent to 401,883 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle!
- Increased Ecuadorian farmer revenue by $1.5 million
- Conserved 30 million gallons of water--equivalent to 46 Olympic swimming pools!
Cacao is a superfood, and one of the many beauties of upcycling the whole cacao pod is that it allows Blue Stripes to optimize all of cacao’s superfood properties in its products. Our lines of beverages and snacks contain powerful antioxidants, electrolytes, dietary fiber and key vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, vitamins B, C & E, and more. These properties may support overall human health, including: cardiovascular health, immune function, gut health, boosting mood, and reducing inflammation (source). The cacao pod shell alone has antibacterial, antivira,l and anti-inflammatory properties that can boost the immune system and have the ability to prevent coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer (source).
JS: What else is in your fruit snacks (no added sugar, I know), and how did you fine-tune the formulation?
OB: Our Superfruit Gummies have one or two ingredients and 100% fruit…that’s it! We work with our manufacturing partners in Ecuador to perfect the texture of this delicious and nutritious fruit snack.
JS: Then, the flavors—how did you decide upon Mango and Pineapple for your launch?
OB: Our decision was based on a combination of consumer research and retailer feedback. Most of us at Blue Stripes also have kids at home who gave us valuable and direct feedback on what was and wasn’t working.
JS: Congrats on making it into Costco—how did you connect with the retailer and collaborate to make that SE region launch possible?
OB: We shared our Superfruit Gummies with Costco Southeast’s buying team, and they immediately saw the potential—driven by the great taste, the uniqueness of the product, and the clean, simple ingredients. They were also excited about the opportunity to help address the cacao crisis and the massive waste in the chocolate industry through our partnership. Launching the 16-packs in Costco Southeast felt like a natural fit, since many Costco members in the region already have a cultural connection to cacao fruit and understand its incredible benefits.
JS: What’s next for your brand—anything you can preview?
OB: We’re excited to continue expanding our Superfruit Gummies to more channels in different formats. They’re currently in Whole Foods nationwide, as well as select Costco and Sprouts locations. You’ll also start seeing the single-serve pouches in cafes, yoga studios, corporate offices, etc., very soon.
JS: What would you like to add?
OB: Blue Stripes’ approach of upcycling the whole cacao pod—as opposed to utilizing only the 30% that chocolate companies use—to create its products supports the environment, cacao farmers, and the overall health of consumers. The brand is on a mission to transform the chocolate industry by upcycling the whole cacao pod to create delicious, environmentally conscious, and nutrient-dense products, offering a holistic solution to the global cacao crisis.
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