Link Snacks
Link Snacks (Jack Link's) is a family-owned, fifth-generation U.S. meat snack manufacturer and the #1 meat snacking brand in America, producing jerky, sticks, steaks, and air-dried protein snacks across four U.S. facilities and 11 countries, sold through retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1880
- HeadquartersMinong, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Link Snacks does
Link Snacks, Inc. (operating as Jack Link's Protein Snacks) is a family-owned, fifth-generation U.S. meat snack manufacturer headquartered in Minong, Wisconsin, with a corporate hub in Downtown Minneapolis. The company's roots trace to the 1880s when Chris Link immigrated to Wisconsin with family sausage recipes; the commercial Jack Link's brand launched in 1985 and grew into the #1 meat snacking brand in America by Nielsen-measured share (L52W ending 02/22/2025). Core production uses traditional hardwood smoking, slow cooking, and air-drying processes applied to 100-year-old family recipes across beef, turkey, and chicken proteins. The manufacturing footprint comprises four upper-Midwest facilities (Minong WI, New Glarus WI, Mankato MN, Alpena SD) plus a New Zealand plant and a Germany facility under construction, with $450 million in cumulative plant investment.
The product portfolio spans beef jerky, beef sticks, beef steaks, tender bites, cold-crafted beef-and-cheese, DUOS dual-flavor packs, and the new JL3 three-ingredient clean-ingredient air-dried line; value-tier Carnivore Bites (65 pieces / 110g protein at $19.99) and premium collaborations with PepsiCo (Doritos Nacho Cheese) and MrBeast target adjacent consumer segments. The company markets seven brands — Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, Wild River, Golden Island, MATADOR, BiFi, and Peperami — across 11 countries, plus Rare Breed real-meat dog treats in the U.S.
Revenue is generated through one-time product sales across retail (convenience, grocery, drug, mass), foodservice (K-12 schools via DOT, Sysco, US Foods, Gordon Food Service), direct-to-consumer e-commerce (jacklinks.com), and Amazon marketplace. Pricing is unit-based, with portion-controlled multi-year contracts for the K-12 channel and per-pack retail pricing across consumer formats. Customer segments include fitness-conscious consumers, value-seekers, K-12 institutional buyers, retail/grocery buyers, and pet owners. With 4,000+ employees and an estimated $4B valuation referenced by the CEO, the company operates as a global branded protein-snack platform with no external institutional ownership and no public listing.
Link Snacks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Link Snacks
- Legal name
- Link Snacks, Inc.
- Website
- https://jacklinks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1880
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Link Snacks (Jack Link's) is a family-owned, fifth-generation U.S. meat snack manufacturer and the #1 meat snacking brand in America, producing jerky, sticks, steaks, and air-dried protein snacks across four U.S. facilities and 11 countries, sold through retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Link Snacks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Meat Snacks
- NAICS
- Other Snack Food Manufacturing (311919)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Jerky & Meat Snacks (CRADABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Jerky & Meat Snacks Manufacturing (AFAKAIAH), Better-for-You / Functional Snacks (Low Sugar, Keto, Probiotic, Fortified) (CRADABAM)
Keywords
Where Link Snacks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minong
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Link Snacks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Meat Snack Product Sales: Sale of protein meat snacks including beef jerky, beef sticks, steaks, tender bites, and air-dried products through retail and e-commerce channels. The company generates approximately $4 billion in revenue as a global protein snack empire.
- Portfolio Brand Sales: Multiple branded meat snack products under Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, Wild River, Golden Island, MATADOR Jerky, BiFi, and Peperami brands across 11 countries
- Wholesale/Distribution: Products sold through distributors including DOT, Sysco, US Foods, and Gordon Food Service to grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores, and large retailers nationwide
- Pet Treat Products: Rare Breed real meat dog treats sold online and in select Walmart stores as part of Link Snacks' broader product portfolio
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for meat snacks |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | K-12 Smart Snacks portion-controlled pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-pack value pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels8 records
Link Snacks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Link Snacks (dba Jack Link's) manufactures and sells a portfolio of meat snack products including beef jerky, beef sticks, beef steaks, air-dried steak slices, tender bites, and cold-crafted beef and cheese products. The company produces under multiple brands including Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, Wild River, Golden Island, MATADOR Jerky, BiFi, Peperami, and Rare Breed, distributing primarily through convenience stores, grocery chains, drug stores, mass retailers, K-12 school foodservice, e-commerce, and Amazon.
Product overview
Link Snacks (Jack Link's) is a family-owned meat snack company offering a diverse portfolio of protein-focused products. The core product line includes beef jerky, beef sticks, beef steaks, air-dried steak slices, tender bites, and cold crafted beef & cheese products. The company has expanded into multi-flavor offerings (DUOS), bulk value products (Carnivore Bites), zero-sugar options, and turkey/chicken alternatives. Strategic collaborations include the MrBeast influencer line and PepsiCo/Doritos partnership for flavored products. Additional brands in the portfolio include Lorissa's Kitchen, Wild River, Golden Island, MATADOR Jerky, BiFi, and Peperami. The company also operates a pet treats brand (Rare Breed) and merchandise line. Products are primarily distributed through grocery stores, convenience stores, drug stores, mass retailers, and online, with manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lorissa's Kitchen: Chicken and pork protein snacks brand
- Wild River
- Golden Island
- MATADOR Jerky
- BiFi
- Peperami
- Rare Breed
Products and services
- Jack Link's Beef Jerky Signature slow-smoked, marinated beef jerky in multiple flavors (Original, Teriyaki, Peppered, Sweet & Hot, Jalapeño, Bacon) made with 100% beef, providing up to 30g protein per 2.85oz bag.
- Jack Link's Beef Sticks
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 36g protein per serving in Zero Sugar Beef Jerky
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Link Snacks
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Link Snacks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Link Snacks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson)coreSocial media creator partnership with MrBeast resulting in co-branded products including Original Mini Sticks, Turkey Mini Sticks, Zero Sugar Mini Sticks, Original Beef Jerky, and Teriyaki Beast Sticks. Products marketed as 'Kid Tested. Mom Approved' targeting younger demographics and their parents.
- PepsiCo/Frito-LaycoreJack Link's and PepsiCo Foods launched Doritos Nacho Cheese flavored beef jerky and meat sticks through an extended partnership first forged in 2023. The collaboration leverages iconic Doritos flavor equity to drive premiumization and incremental shelf appeal in the packaged meat snack market. Products available online and in retailers nationwide.
- NASCARminorJack Link's X NASCAR partnership featuring sweepstakes promotion for 'The Ultimate NASCAR Experience.' Limited-time branded merchandise including NASCAR-themed products and promotional activities.
- Animal Shelters (USA)minorRare Breed (owned by Link Snacks) launched 'Treat Your Shelter' digital give-back campaign donating approximately 8-pound shipments of premium dog treats to animal shelters across the United States. First 500 nominated shelters received shipments with nominators receiving 50% off discount codes, timed for Valentine's Day.
- DOT FoodservicecoreDOT Foodservice distributes Jack Link's K-12 Smart Snack compliant products (DOT code: 708459 for 0.5oz beef sticks, 660189 for 0.85oz jerky) to schools nationwide.
- SyscocoreSysco distributes Jack Link's K-12 Smart Snack compliant products (Sysco codes: 7102958 for chicken bites, 3287895 for jerky) to schools nationwide.
- US FoodscoreUS Foods distributes Jack Link's K-12 Smart Snack compliant products (US Foods codes: 27298365 for chicken bites, 9593948 for original jerky, 9593955 for teriyaki jerky) to schools nationwide.
- Gordon Food ServicecoreGordon Food Service distributes Jack Link's K-12 Smart Snack compliant products (GFS codes: 800240 for chicken bites, 571524 for original jerky, 571525 for teriyaki jerky) to schools nationwide.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Link Snacks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Conagra Brands (Slim Jim): Conagra's Slim Jim is a direct competitor in the meat stick/jerky category, sold across the same convenience and grocery channels as Jack Link's with comparable target consumers seeking convenient high-protein snacks.
- Tillamook Country Smoker: Oregon-based premium jerky brand competing directly with Jack Link's in the better-for-you meat snack segment across grocery, convenience, and online channels with overlapping target consumers.
- Country Archer Provisions: Premium jerky and meat stick brand focused on clean ingredients, grass-fed beef, and natural curing, competing head-to-head with Jack Link's in the BFY jerky segment of the same shelf.
- Oberto Snacks: Long-standing US jerky and meat snack manufacturer with comparable distribution across convenience and grocery, offering beef jerky and meat sticks in similar flavors and pack sizes to Jack Link's core portfolio.
- Old Trapper: Family-owned Oregon-based beef jerky producer with comparable manufacturing-driven CPG model, competing for the same value-conscious meat snack consumers in convenience and club channels.
- KRAVE Jerky (Hormel): Pioneer in the premium/better-for-you jerky segment, now owned by Hormel; a like-for-like competitor targeting health-conscious consumers and overlapping with Jack Link's JL3 repositioning.
Emerging players
- Chomps: Fast-growing grass-fed meat stick brand emphasizing whole-food ingredients, keto/paleo positioning, and DTC strength; emerging competitor that has captured meaningful BFY share at the expense of legacy brands like Jack Link's.
- Field Trip Snacks: Better-for-you jerky brand using grass-fed beef and natural ingredients, competing in the premium clean-label segment where Jack Link's JL3 line is repositioning.
Broad incumbents
- General Mills (Nature Valley, protein snacks): Large diversified CPG incumbent with overlapping presence in protein-forward snacking (bars, snacks) sold in the same grocery and convenience channels; competes for the same high-protein snack occasion rather than identical product format.
Others
- PepsiCo (Frito-Lay protein snacks): While a co-branding partner on Doritos Nacho Cheese jerky, PepsiCo is also a broader incumbent across salty/snack aisles and an investor in protein snack adjacencies (Off the Eaten Path, etc.); adjacent ecosystem participant with direct overlap on snack occasions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Link Snacks social profiles
Digital presenceLink Snacks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Link Snacks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Link Snacks subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Link Snacks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Link Snacks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Link Snacks
What does Link Snacks do?
Link Snacks (dba Jack Link's) manufactures and sells a portfolio of meat snack products including beef jerky, beef sticks, beef steaks, air-dried steak slices, tender bites, and cold-crafted beef and cheese products. The company produces under multiple brands including Jack Link's, Lorissa's Kitchen, Wild River, Golden Island, MATADOR Jerky, BiFi, Peperami, and Rare Breed, distributing primarily through convenience stores, grocery chains, drug stores, mass retailers, K-12 school foodservice, e-commerce, and Amazon.
Is Link Snacks a public or private company?
Link Snacks is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Link Snacks founded?
Link Snacks was founded in 1880. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Link Snacks based?
Link Snacks is headquartered in Minong, United States, in the North America region.
How does Link Snacks make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Meat Snack Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are portfolio Brand Sales, wholesale/Distribution and pet Treat Products.
Who are Link Snacks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Conagra Brands (Slim Jim), Tillamook Country Smoker, Country Archer Provisions, Oberto Snacks, Old Trapper and KRAVE Jerky (Hormel). Emerging players are Chomps and Field Trip Snacks. General Mills (Nature Valley, protein snacks) is listed as a broad incumbent. PepsiCo (Frito-Lay protein snacks) is listed as an others.
Does Link Snacks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Link Snacks.
What industry is Link Snacks in?
Link Snacks's product category is Meat Snacks. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADABAK, Jerky & Meat Snacks, with a secondary code of AFAKAIAH, Jerky & Meat Snacks Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 311919 and its SIC code is 2000.