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Sports fanatics often follow the footsteps of their favorite athletes be it by purchasing athlete-owned apparel or trying out athlete owned food brands. The concept of athlete owned food brands isn't recent and has been an evergreen trend with brands like Shaq Soda and Jaromir Jagr Peanut Butter gracing the market early on.
While some athletes invest in apparel and fragrance brands, multiple sportspersons have invested in food brands making it a part of their business portfolio off the field. Since athletes are advocates of a healthy lifestyle, athlete owned food brands are viewed as eatables endorsed and consumed by the athletes themselves, attracting fans to buy the same.
Top Picks: 5 athlete owned food brands for sports enthusiasts to try
Athletes endorse a wide range of food products from protein bars to restaurant chains, however, there are a few athletes who not only advertise but own food brands.
Team SK has compiled a list of five athlete owned food brands that sports fanatics must give a try:
- Ready Nutrition
- Travis Kelce's Kitchen
- LEC
- Neat Burger
- Big Chicken
1) Ready Nutrition
Dubbed one of the fastest-growing sports nutrition companies in America, Ready Nutrition announced Giannis Antetokounmpo as an investor and stakeholder in the company in 2020.
In the press release, basketball fame Giannis Antetokounmpo mentioned:
"For me to get involved with the company at this level and build something special — it will give me the chance to learn and make an impact on a global level, not just here in the U.S. This fits everything I was looking for.”
Ready Water is one of the popular products of the brand featuring zero sugar, 15 grams of protein, and five natural electrolytes. Moreover, Ready Nutrition is known for its range of protein bars.
2) Travis Kelce's Kitchen
American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League, Travis Kelce has often showcased his love for food and cooking. In 2023, Travis Kelce partnered with Walmart to launch Travis Kelce's Kitchen- a range of refrigerated BBQ-inspired meals such as bacon mac & cheese, brisket burnt ends BBQ sauce, and more.
In a statement to Today.com, a Walmart representative commented on Travis Kelce's Kitchen stating:
“With the launch of Travis Kelce’s Kitchen, Kelce aims to share his passion for great food, especially the hearty BBQ that Kansas City is famous for.”
3) LEC
Ferrari's F1 driver Charles Leclerc recently launched a low-calorie ice cream brand called LEC. The ice cream brand combines the formulation of gelato and ice cream offering flavors like Chocolate Crunch, Peanut Caramel Tango, and more with a calorie range between 335 to 399 calories.
Leclerc launched the ice cream brand in Milan, Italy and the brand is the first entrepreneurial venture by the F1 driver.
4) Neat Burger
To bring plant-based food to the table, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton invested in vegan fast food brand Neat Burger. The food brand has garnered the likes of many owing to the quality and taste of their burgers, especially their shroom + bean patty.
In a statement published on the Veg News website, Lewis Hamilton commented on the success of Neat Burger:
“The response to Neat Burger since we opened has been incredible. I’m really proud of the boundaries we have been able to push in this space and the plans for expansion are really exciting.”
5) Big Chicken
Shaquille O'Neal has made a prominent name not only as one of the greatest basketball players but also as an investor in multiple food, drink, and lifestyle brands.
Found in 2018, the athlete owned food brand reportedly incorporates Shaq O'Neal's childhood home-cooked favorite recipes with the current trending flavors. Some of the most loved products from the brand include crispy chicken sandwiches, Cheese-It crusted mac n' cheese, and hand-crafted ice-cream shakes, as per the brand description.
The abovementioned athlete owned food brands have added to the popularity of the sportspersons involved and have also become successful ventures in the food industry.
Apart from the brands mentioned, athletes like Maria Sharapova, Ryan Miller, and Muhammad Ali have also invested in food brands early on.
