Snacklins didn’t start as a fan favorite - EAT THE WHOLE BAG puffed chip. It started with a question: What if there were a pork rind... made out of plants?
That idea, first sparked by founder Samy Kobrosly during a bar bet, became the foundation for one of the fastest-growing puffed snack chips in the United States. Today, Snacklins is valued at an estimated $15 million and ranks as the #2 fastest-growing puff brand nationally—and #1 in the Mid-Atlantic.
But the growth didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of a deliberate strategy grounded in product-market fit, phased growth, and manufacturing ownership—pillars of the Union Kitchen Accelerator.
Samy entered the Union Kitchen Accelerator in 2016 with an early concept: a crunchy, savory vegan alternative to pork rinds. Together with the Union Kitchen team, he defined his company's mission, a go-to-market strategy, and a process to build a product that was reflective of what people want and scalable.
From day one, Snacklins owned its manufacturing—a critical decision that has shaped the company’s trajectory. In an industry where most puff chip brands outsource production, Snacklins stands apart. It is the only puffed chip company in the U.S. making its own pellets (what gets fried and turned into a chip) operating from its manufacturing facility in Rockville, Maryland. This control has allowed Samy and the team to manage product quality, iterate quickly, and respond to market trends without relying on external suppliers.
The product launched through Union Kitchen stores and Union Kitchen's retail partners Compass Coffee, providing immediate access to real-world customer feedback. Those insights led to an early pivot—rebranding Snacklins as a veggie puff chip and emphasizing its light, airy crunch and impressively low calorie count: just 100 calories per bag. From there, the company focused on saturating the Mid-Atlantic market, establishing a loyal customer base and operational foundation before expanding nationally.
That phased growth strategy paid off. Snacklins is now carried by major retailers, including Whole Foods, Giant, and MOM’s Organic Market. The brand earned a $250,000 investment from Mark Cuban after a successful appearance on Shark Tank, followed by a $1 million investment from the Union Kitchen Investment Fund.
Snacklins is a clear example of what happens when a food company follows a disciplined path to scale: own the manufacturing, validate the product early, and grow in phases. That approach has delivered strong margins, national distribution, and durable traction in both the conventional and natural retail channels.
Snacklins is built to last—and yes, still hard to put down.
Ready to build like Snacklins? Learn more about how Union Kitchen can help you build your food business here.
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