One Trick Pony: Peanut butter that stands out in a crowd
Peanut butter is a deceptively simple product that most food companies get wrong. They optimize for shelf life and consistency, adding unnecessary oils and sugars, when they should focus on health and taste.
This is a classic big company mistake: solving for their convenience, not the consumer’s needs. It’s left a gap in the market for a peanut butter that’s both nutritious and delicious—a surprisingly hard combination to find.
So when Lucy Dana, Andrew Dana, and Daniela Moreira approached me about their new peanut butter concept, I was immediately interested. Here was a food startup tackling a real, everyday problem affecting millions. It’s not flashy tech, but it’s the kind of innovation that can make a significant impact.
Their idea: A clean-ingredient option—without additives or oils—that tastes amazing. They use only the finest Argentinian peanuts and Patagonian sea salt. That’s it. Two ingredients.
Peanuts are indigenous to South America, meaning the climate is perfect for cultivating naturally sweet peanuts. One Trick Pony sources their peanuts from Daniela’s hometown in Córdoba, Argentina.
I was eager to give it a try, and the moment I did, I was hooked. The kinda crunchy option is 🔥🤌
Which brings me to One Trick Pony’s founders. Lucy Dana, former Chief of Staff to the CEO at Blue Bottle, her brother Andrew, founder of Call Your Mother Deli and Timber Pizza, and Andrew’s wife, James Beard nominated chef Daniela Moreira, are all lifelong peanut butter enthusiasts. Their combined expertise in food, business, and hospitality makes them the perfect team to execute this new business.
In some ways, our investment in One Trick Pony reminds me of our seed investment in OLIPOP. On the surface, investing in another peanut butter brand might not seem exciting. It’s a crowded space, dominated by giants like JIF (a $600M annual business). But a closer look at the ingredient lists of JIF, Skippy, and Justin’s reveals a disturbing reality. These iconic brands are actually made with a cocktail of unhealthy ingredients, including hydrogenated oils and added sugars. JIF, for example, contains partially hydrogenated soybean oil, a known source of trans fats, while Skippy contains added sugar, making it a less-than-ideal choice.
This has created an opening for a new category leader. One that prioritizes nutrition and wholesome ingredients. We’re excited to see this large, stagnant category turned on its head as consumers increasingly demand better from their food brands.
In addition, we’re proud to be investing alongside an excellent group of founders and operators, including Gabi Lewis and Greg Sewitz (Magic Spoon), Kevin Lee and Kevin Chan (immi), Zack Gazzinga (Zack’s Mighty and Sir Kensington’s), Eli Weiss (All Things CX & Retention), Nate Rosen (Express Checkout), Albert Lee (All Tomorrows), and Nic Jammet (Sweetgreen).
If you haven’t already, give One Trick Pony a try.
Postscript: fun peanut butter facts:
- Americans consume about 700 million pounds of peanut butter annually.
- It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
- Peanut butter was first introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
- Astronauts on Apollo 11 used peanut butter in tube form.
- National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day is March 1.