After just three years, Duck Fat spray is sold in 48 states

After just three years, Duck Fat spray is sold in 48 states

by | Nov 20, 2019 | GROW Blog

After just three years, Duck Fat spray is sold in 48 states

Five years ago, Dennis Schuett discovered the benefits of cooking with duck fat.

It’s lower in saturated fat than some other cooking oils and fats, has good health properties and gives amazing flavor to anything from vegetables and eggs to brisket and pork loin.

“It imparts a very savory flavor,” he said. “I like to say it makes good food better.”

That discovery launched Dennis down a path that led to the creation of the world’s only Gourmet Duck Fat Cooking Oil Spray.

“Come to find out, all the gourmets have been using duck fat for years,” Dennis said. They used the duck fat in its original fat form to fry French fries, rub on meats before smoking and to cook pastries.

“I thought since it was such a great product, wouldn’t it be great to put it into a spray,” Dennis said.

Dennis and his business partner, Roger Brodersen, conducted extensive research, purchased equipment and found a USDA-inspected co-packer to start producing the first duck fat spray.  The duck fat is contained within a bag inside the spray can, and it’s forced out with clean compressed air instead of propellants.

Dennis, a Grand Island native who owns cafes in Omaha and has extensive experience in the grocery industry, used his business background to promote the new product to retailers around the state and Midwest.

He also joined GROW Nebraska to help market his product.

“GROW Nebraska was wonderful,” Dennis said. “They really helped me get a foot hold in Nebraska and beyond that because of their online visibility and the different platforms they brought my product to. They were a bit like my daycare in the beginning, helping me really get established and get some credibility and some real-time consumer feedback.”

Now, after just three years, Duck Fat spray is sold in 48 states and is popular for people on Keto or Paleo diets and among those competing in BBQ and steak competitions.

“It’s been really wonderful,” Dennis said. “We pick up new accounts every week. We are in all 48 states. Our store counts, which was in the hundreds a year ago, is now well into the thousands.”

Duck Fat spray is the first product for Dennis and Roger’s business, officially called Cornhusker Kitchen. They also sell tubs of duck fat. They hope to develop new products in the future and continue to grow the visibility and popularity of Duck Fat spray.

Duck Fat cooking oil spray is available on all three of GROW Nebraska’s buying platforms: Buy Nebraska, Ebay and Amazon. For more information or to purchase Duck Fat cooking oil spray, visit https://members.grownebraska.org/list/member/cornhusker-kitchen-llc-9441

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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Simplify Holiday Shopping with GROW Nebraska Gift Boxes

Simplify Holiday Shopping with GROW Nebraska Gift Boxes

by | Nov 12, 2019 | GROW Blog

Simplify Holiday Shopping with

GROW Nebraska Gift Boxes

Whether your holiday shopping list includes family, friends, neighbors or business clients, there’s something for everyone at GROW Nebraska®. And, purchasing themed gift baskets from GROW or its members makes your shopping convenient and shows your support of entrepreneurs across the state.

GROW Nebraska® gift boxes or baskets can be ordered in any price range from $20 to $150+ and can include any of more than 3,500 GROW Nebraska® products from soaps and lotions to popcorn and t-shirts. You can design your own package, including the container or box. Or, if that seems too overwhelming, the GROW Nebraska® staff are happy to give suggestions and design the package for you.

Last year and again this year, GROW Nebraska® has the new option to personalize gift boxes (through Jayhawk Boxes) and can customize boxes with company logos and/or receivers’ names.

And while gift box orders increase during the holiday season, any time of year is a great time for made-in-Nebraska gifts.

Lincoln Realtor Johanna Rhoads, ReMAX Real Estate Concepts, wanted a more unique gift to give to her real estate clients this year.

Her husband, Adam, manages the non-profit organization Mystic Rhoads Productions Inc. and is a member of GROW Nebraska. He sells products like Jamaican Jerk Seasoning and Dirt Nap Dip Habanero Pepper Sauce to raise money for community causes.

“My wife always gives a gift to her clients,” Adam said. “The gifts were run-of-the-mill gifts from corporate businesses, and she asked me if I would come up with a more creative and personal gift to give to clients. We decided to put together themed baskets that feature Nebraska-made products.”

They chose three themes – coffee, wine and kitchen – and grouped items together to create unique gifts. The coffee basket includes handmade coffee cups made in Lincoln, corn tea (GROW member), a gift card to a local coffee shop and locally made toffee. The kitchen basket includes a Nebraska-shaped cutting board made in Lincoln, Mystic Rhoads Productions hot sauces and seasonings (GROW member) and Duck Fat Cooking Spray (GROW member). The wine basket includes a bottle of wine, RCK Creations wine glasses (GROW member), Mystic Rhoads Productions seasonings (GROW member) and locally made toffee.

Adam said Johanna has given out nearly 50 baskets this year, and they have been well received.

Other GROW Nebraska members, such as The Basket Case in Kearney and the From Nebraska Gift Store in Lincoln’s historic Haymarket also offer gift-basket services for holidays or other occasions.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, it’s important to order gift boxes soon. One customer has already pre-ordered 150 Nebraska-product gift boxes, so the store will be busy with gift boxes throughout the holiday season!

To order gift baskets:

From GROW Nebraska: https://buynebraska.com/collections/gift-baskets or call the store at (308) 338-3520 or email info@grownebraska.org.

The Basket Case: https://members.grownebraska.org/list/member/the-basket-case-kearney-278

From Nebraska Gift Store: https://buynebraska.com/collections/from-nebraska-gift-shop

“By buying with GROW, the majority of each sale goes directly back into the pocket of entrepreneurs in our very own state,” said GROW’s Executive Director Janell Anderson Ehrke. “When you buy local, you are helping dreams come true for your neighbors. There’s no better gift than that!”

GROW Nebraska® Foundation is a statewide non-profit training and marketing organization. Serving over 400 Nebraska small businesses, the organization provides marketing opportunities, education, and training to launch and connect Nebraska businesses to the global marketplace. GROW Nebraska’s educational programs receive federal and state funding, along with generous support from foundations and individual donors.

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