Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Take Two is the primary firm to make the most of upcycled barley into nutritious plant milk. Holding the declare that its milk outperforms different plant-based milks when utilized in recipes, Take Two is on observe to upcycle not less than 500,000 kilos of spent grain this 12 months.
With the corporate just lately launching its new Barista Barleymilk for espresso aficionados, we thought it was a very good time to fulfill Jerek Theo Lovey, Co-founder and CEO of Take Two.
Can you give us Take Two’s elevator pitch?
Take Two is championing the upcycling motion by reworking the billions of spent grain wasted annually into great-tasting, nutritious, and sustainable barleymilk.
Upcycling is on the core of Take Two. What are the advantages of this enterprise mannequin, and do you assume it can unfold into completely different enterprise areas?
The upcycling motion is rising shortly throughout industries equivalent to style, constructing, and even transportation. From an environmental and sustainability perspective, it’s turning into all of the extra important for companies to reimagine the potential of “waste,” and remodel it into worth. For instance, roughly 1/third of our meals provide goes to waste, which contributes roughly 8% of worldwide emissions. The influence on the surroundings is actual and we can assist mitigate it via this mannequin.
“The probabilities are limitless.”
How does Take Two handle to supply the barley from beer as a way to upcycle it?
We’ve partnered with EverGrain, an organization that produces upcycled barley protein and fiber, constituted of Anheuser Busch InBev spent grain. The protein and fiber can be utilized in all kinds of meals functions — from breads to milks, crackers, cookies, and protein shakes. The probabilities are limitless.
You’ve simply launched a brand new product, Barista Barleymilk; what expectations do you could have for this product when it comes to distribution and gross sales?
Our Barista taste opens up new channels for us past retail, together with meals service and e-commerce. We’re launching with choose espresso store companions within the Pacific Northwest and Southern California, in addition to launching on Amazon, Imperfect Meals, Thrive, and direct-to-consumer through our personal web site. These channels are pathways for connection — serving to us present up for our prospects in distinctive and significant events and locations, and to construct a motion round sustainability and upcycling. We plan to develop distribution outdoors of PNW and SoCal in 2022.
Nutritionally talking, how does Barleymilk differ from different plant-based milks in the marketplace?
Barleymilk is exclusive in that it offers full protein, that means that it accommodates the entire important amino acids the physique wants, that are sometimes discovered solely in animal proteins. Our Authentic taste accommodates 5 grams of full protein per serving, and in addition offers 50% extra calcium than dairy. Our different flavors include between 3 and eight grams of full protein, with different important nutritional vitamins equivalent to potassium and iron. Whether or not including barleymilk to a smoothie, espresso, pancakes, or consuming it by the glass, it offers true vitamin to enhance a balanced way of life.
The place can customers at the moment discover your merchandise?
Take Two Barleymilk is distributed throughout the U.S. in choose Sprouts Farmers Markets, Ralph’s, King Soopers, Fred Meyers, and Complete Meals Markets. You may also buy Take Two on-line at https://www.taketwofoods.com/.
Do you have extra merchandise in the growth pipeline?
We’re engaged on creating great-tasting, better-for-you plant-based dairy merchandise equivalent to yogurt, ice cream, and cheeses.