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Chomps has grown to an estimated $900 million in annual revenue this year. The company now produces enough meat sticks to meet demand after years of allocation limits.
krogerkrazy.comChomps, a Chicago-based meat snack company, sells an estimated 2 million meat sticks per day across 50,000 retailers including Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, Publix and H-E-B. The company projects revenue of more than $900 million for 2026, up from $660 million in 2025, according to Forbes estimates. Women make up about 70 percent of its customers.
Chomps was founded in Naples, Florida, in 2012 by Rashid Ali and Pete Maldonado. The pair started with a grassfed meat box concept before pivoting to meat sticks after six months of low sales. The company secured its first major retail placement at Trader Joe's in 2016.
Revenue reached an estimated $4 million that year and grew to $20 million by 2018 after adding Albertsons and other chains. Chomps expanded to Walmart, Meijer, Wegmans and Whole Foods. Revenue hit $100 million during the pandemic. U.S. meat snack market.
Maldonado control the majority of the company. Forbes estimates the company's value exceeds $1 billion. The cofounders report the business has been profitable since its first month. Forbes estimates 2025 EBITDA at about $50 million, or roughly 7 percent margin.
Chomps raised debt financing in 2023 and 2024 with SG Stonegate Capital and secured a $100 million line of credit with Wells Fargo in 2025.
Chomps products use grassfed beef, venison and antibiotic-free turkey. The next largest competitor, Archer, reports an estimated $300 million in 2025 revenue. Ali stated the company has faced ongoing production constraints but now has sufficient capacity for the first time this year.
Maldonado moved from co-CEO to chairman last year. The cofounders met through mutual friends at a poker-themed birthday party in Chicago and each initially invested $3,250.
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