Jesse Konig and Ben Johnson: Frying the Status Quo
When it comes to evangelists for the anti-seed oil movement, look no further than Jesse & Ben’s. The frozen french fry manufacturer has become one of the most visible brands aligned with the Make America Healthy Again movement, replacing conventional frying oils with beef tallow and avocado oil. On a mission to “disrupt Big Potato,” founders Jesse Konig and Ben Johnson raised an oversubscribed, $10 million funding round this spring to accelerate retail expansion. Konig and Johnson have positioned Jesse & Ben’s at the center of one of food’s most polarizing – and commercially significant – conversations. Whether the movement proves enduring or fleeting, they’ve turned french fries into a bellwether indicator for Americans’ thoughts about food.