NOSH Live Pitch Slam 13 Winner Announcement & Interview

Los Angeles-based snack dipper startup brand Sunnie was named the winner of Pitch Slam 13, NOSH’s pitch competition for emerging food brands sponsored by PepsiCo Ventures Group.

Sunnie emerged victorious from a group of six emerging CPG food brands including Mooskie chilled oat bars, Resist Nutrition vegan protein bars, Mindright nootropic snacks, The Humble Seed seed-based crackers and Mojave Mellows date and agave-based marshmallows.

During Friday’s Pitch Slam round, finalists were given five minutes to pitch their product and brand while explaining to the panel of judges where their products are situated in the market, their blueprints for scaling and how they plan to stand out in the saturated healthy food category.

The round was judged by Thrive Market category manager Thuy Nguyen; MOSH investor, advisor and co-CEO Patrick Schwarzenneger; Velocity Snack Brands CEO Amit Pandhi; and PepsiCo Ventures Group Principal Jason Stamm.

Founded in 2020, Sunnie produces a line of better-for-you snack dippers. Available in six varieties – Hummus Dipper, Flatbread Pizza Dipper, Guac Dipper, Taco Dipper and Granola Bites + Fresh Blueberries – the snack packs were created by co-founders Katy Tucker and Lisette Howard to extend on-the-go convenience beyond the lunch box.

“We see our core demo as the kids, but it's really the modern family," said Tucker following the win. "You may purchase Sunnie for your kids but you buy a bundle and there's some hummus dippers for dad to take on the go or mom to take between meetings. That's the niche we feel like we're filling."

Sunnie received unanimous praise from the judges for its taste, its on-the-go format and its mission to fill the white space present in the “better-for-you lunchable” set. Each 3 oz. snack pack is currently offered for $3.99 to $4.99 depending on the retailer.

“I think it’s huge. I think it’s an actual, really addressable market. I literally tweeted this, like, a couple of months, maybe a year ago, I was like why is no one tapping into the healthier Lunchables,” said Schwarzenegger.

As the champion of Pitch Slam 13, Sunnie will walk away with a $10,000 awareness-building advertising package from NOSH and bragging rights.

Sunnie joins past Pitch Slam winners including Ruani adaptogenic brownies, Cocina 54 frozen empanadas, Savorly appetizers, Know Brainer keto marshmallows, Beckon lactose-free ice cream, Creation Nation protein bar mix and Kokada coconut spread.

Looking ahead, Sunnie’s main focus is on scaling its presence. The brand plans to grow from 70 points of distribution nationwide to over 600 points of distribution over the next year.