Meet Connor Blakley, the 26-year-old entrepreneur behind the exciting new online Jams. His aim is to eventually have his product be the healthier, whole-food option to the ubiquitous go-to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that Smucker’s Uncrustables serve. This unique collaboration launched earlier this week and is sure to make waves among athletes and healthy consumers similarly looking to refresh their routines.
Blakley’s journey into the system began at 17, when he was expelled from high school. Driven by that fire, he wanted to develop a product that really benefits active people. He spent thousands of hours developing and taste-testing over 250 PB&J sandwich iterations. Each version faced extremely high standards to even be considered for development into jams. At 74 grams the sandwich is somewhat small, but it does at least deliver on 10 grams of protein. Additionally, it has a significantly lower total sugar content than its competitors.
New jams will only be available at 3,000 select Walmart stores nationwide. The sandwiches come in two flavors: strawberry and a mixed berry option, catering to diverse taste preferences. Blakley explains that convenience is the biggest driver of success for this fast-growing category.
“I think convenience is really, really a big part of why this category has and will continue to take off,” – Connor Blakley.
The company has gotten powerful support from sports luminaries. Some of those high-profile supporters include U.S. soccer legend Alex Morgan and NFL Pro Bowlers C.J. Stroud and Micah Parsons. This support stems from the understanding that Jams will resonate best with the on-the-go athlete looking for a delicious snack that helps them go harder, longer.
Produced in our home state of Ohio and next-door neighbor Wisconsin, Jams sandwiches are formulated specifically for the health-conscious consumer. Blakley wants consumers to see the lack of seed oils as a major differentiator from competing products.
“No. 1 is it’s no seed oils,” – Connor Blakley.
Each Jams box is only $5.97. This price point positions it well for consumers looking for convenient, healthy meal options. To distinguish itself, Jams has focused on the athletic market. Together, they hope to create a special place for themselves in the competitive realm of ready-to-eat sandwiches.