Astronaut Foods

What Astronaut Foods does

Astronaut Foods (DBA: Astronaut Ice Cream) is a Boulder, Colorado-based specialty food brand founded in 1974 as the original commercial source of freeze-dried astronaut ice cream, operating today under parent company American Outdoor Products, Inc. alongside sister brand Backpacker's Pantry. The company manufactures a compact portfolio of eight consumer SKUs — four freeze-dried ice cream sandwich varieties (Neapolitan, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Cream) and four freeze-dried fruit products (whole strawberries, bananas, cinnamon apples, peaches) — produced using lyophilization technology originally co-developed with NASA that removes up to 98% of water content, retains 97% of nutritional value, yields a 3-year shelf life, and requires no refrigeration. Products are sold through four channels: a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront (astronautfoods.com), a wholesale partner program serving museums, toy shops, amusement parks, and outdoor retailers across North America, Europe, and Asia, a corporate gifting program for holiday and event bulk orders, and a STEM-education channel supported by STEM.org and Space Foundation certifications.

The business model is straightforward one-time-purchase CPG sales at low unit price points ($3.99–$4.99 individually, $35.92 for the bundled Outer Space Food Survival Kit), with free domestic shipping over $49 in the lower 48 states, volume-based wholesale pricing, and no subscription or recurring revenue component identified. Customer segmentation spans space enthusiasts and nostalgia-driven adults, outdoor/camping consumers, educational institutions, wholesale retail partners, and corporate gifting buyers. Operational footprint is a single Boulder, CO headquarters and manufacturing facility that is 100% solar-powered; no employee headcount, revenue figures, or capital structure details are disclosed, and the company is described as family-owned with no identified venture capital or private equity investment.

Name

Astronaut Foods

Legal name

American Outdoor Products, Inc.

Website

https://astronautfoods.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Freeze-Dried Foods

NAICS

Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing (311520), Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412)

SIC

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts (2024), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Snacks & Appetizers (CRADADAD)

Keywords

• Freeze-dried ice cream
• Freeze-dried fruit
• Lyophilization food products
• Space-themed snacks
• Shelf-stable treats

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Product Sales: Primary revenue stream through direct consumer purchases via the company's e-commerce website. Products include freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches and fruit sold at individual unit prices with shipping to consumers across the US.
2. Wholesale and Bulk Orders: B2B wholesale channel selling bulk quantities to retail partners including museums, specialty stores, gift shops, and outdoor retailers. Also includes bulk-order options for special events.
3. Corporate Gifting: Corporate holiday gifts and work party treats program targeting business customers. Volume discounts available for large corporate orders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Astronaut Foods manufactures and sells freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches and freeze-dried fruits produced via lyophilization technology developed alongside NASA. Products are shelf-stable for 3 years, require no refrigeration, and are sold direct-to-consumer through the company's e-commerce site, wholesale to retail partners (museums, toy shops, amusement parks, outdoor stores), and via a corporate gifting and bulk-order program.

Product overview

Astronaut Foods is a single-brand specialty food company that offers freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches and freeze-dried fruits as consumer packaged goods. The product portfolio consists of four ice cream sandwich varieties (Neapolitan, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip, and Cookies & Cream) and four freeze-dried fruit products (Strawberries, Bananas, Cinnamon Apples, and Peaches), all produced using lyophilization (freeze-drying) technology developed alongside NASA. Products are sold individually and as a bundled kit (Outer Space Food Survival Kit). The company also offers B2B services including wholesale distribution and corporate gifting programs. All products are manufactured in Boulder, Colorado, with a 3-year shelf life and no refrigeration required.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Astronaut Ice Cream: The original freeze-dried ice cream brand, featuring ice cream sandwiches in various flavors (Neapolitan, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Cream) and freeze-dried fruits (strawberries, bananas, cinnamon apples, peaches).
• Outer Space Food Survival Kit

Products and services

• Neapolitan Ice Cream Sandwich Freeze-dried Neapolitan ice cream sandwich featuring chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream between two chocolate wafers; sold as a shelf-stable, no-refrigeration novelty snack to space enthusiasts and gift buyers.
• Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich Freeze-dried vanilla ice cream sandwich made with 100% real ice cream, ready to eat without refrigeration; positioned for the same consumer and gifting use cases as the Neapolitan variety.
• Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich Freeze-dried mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwich with mint ice cream and chocolate chips, freeze-dried for extended shelf life; targeted at space-themed novelty and outdoor snacking consumers.
• Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Sandwich Freeze-dried cookies and cream ice cream sandwich with cream ice cream between chocolate wafer cookies, made using space-age technology developed alongside NASA; sold as a shelf-stable novelty snack.
• Freeze-Dried Whole Strawberries Whole freeze-dried strawberries made via lyophilization that retains nutrition while removing 98% of water content; targeted at space-theme consumers and as a lightweight, shelf-stable snack.
• Freeze-Dried Bananas Freeze-dried banana slices that are lightweight and packable while retaining all the nutrition of fresh bananas; sold as a shelf-stable snack for outdoor and on-the-go use.
• Freeze-Dried Cinnamon Apples Freeze-dried apple wedges coated with cinnamon and sugar, offering a crunchy texture and enhanced sweetness; sold as a shelf-stable, on-the-go fruit snack.
• Freeze-Dried Peaches Freeze-dried peach slices produced via lyophilization that preserves fruit shape, color, texture, and nutrition; sold as a shelf-stable, no-refrigeration-required fruit snack.
• Outer Space Food Survival Kit Bundled product containing all four ice cream sandwich varieties (Neapolitan, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookies & Cream) and four freeze-dried fruit pouches (Bananas, Cinnamon Apples, Peaches, Strawberries); sold as a complete space-food sampling experience to novelty and gift buyers.
• Corporate Holiday Gifts & Work Party Treats Bulk-ordering service for corporate buyers featuring freeze-dried ice cream and fruit assortments, suitable for company holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, employee appreciation, and work events, with volume discounts available.
• Wholesale Partnership Program Wholesale bulk-ordering program that lets retailers, museums, specialty stores, gift shops, and outdoor retailers stock Astronaut Foods products for resale, with international wholesale inquiries welcomed.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% nutrition retention in freeze-dried products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 1% for the PlanetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSince 2017, Astronaut Foods has been a proud business partner of 1% for the Planet, donating 1% of every sale, every day to vetted nonprofits around the world. The partnership supports environmental causes including conservation, outdoor access, and sustainable food systems.
• Backpacker's PantrycoreOthersBackpacker's Pantry is a sister brand under American Outdoor Products, Inc. (parent company of Astronaut Foods). Both brands share manufacturing facilities in Boulder, CO and joint community service programs including 1% for the Planet donations.
• The Conservation AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit organization that protects outdoor spaces and wild places through collective power of member companies. Astronaut Foods supports through 1% for the Planet donations.
• American Hiking SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization that empowers all people to get outside and enjoy trails. Supported through 1% for the Planet donations from Astronaut Foods.
• Thorne Nature ExperienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColorado-based environmental nonprofit providing nature education to youths and adults through camps and programs. Supported through 1% for the Planet.
• Conscious AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlliance of artists, bands, and companies working together to feed families in need. Astronaut Foods donates thousands of dollars of food annually.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Backpacker's Pantry: Sister brand under the same parent company (American Outdoor Products, Inc.) that also uses freeze-drying technology for outdoor meals. Operates in adjacent categories from the same Boulder, CO facility and shared customer base of outdoor enthusiasts.

Direct peers

• Augason Farms: Major direct-to-consumer freeze-dried food brand offering freeze-dried fruits, ice cream, and emergency preparedness products. Competes head-to-head in the same shelf-stable freeze-dried snack category through similar retail and online channels.
• Natierra: Specialty freeze-dried fruit brand competing in the same shelf-stable, no-refrigeration fruit snack category. Targets similar health-conscious consumers and families via e-commerce and retail channels.
• Crunchies Food Company: Direct competitor in freeze-dried fruit and snack products marketed as all-natural, no added sugar alternatives to conventional dried fruit. Competes for similar health-conscious and kid-snack customers.
• Wise Company: Specialty freeze-dried food company serving the emergency preparedness, outdoor recreation, and survival food markets with shelf-stable meals, fruits, and snacks. Overlaps directly in freeze-dried fruit and dessert SKUs.

Emerging players

• Brothers All Natural: Specialty freeze-dried fruit snack brand targeting similar consumer occasions (lunchboxes, on-the-go, camping) and competing for the same better-for-you fruit snack retail shelf space.
• Stellar Snacks: Specialty freeze-dried fruit brand with similar premium positioning, packaging, and e-commerce-led distribution strategy targeting health-conscious and novelty-seeking consumers.
• That’s it. Fruit: Emerging natural fruit snack brand using minimal-ingredient positioning. Competes for shelf space and consumer attention in the better-for-you fruit snack category where Astronaut Foods' freeze-dried fruits sit.

Broad incumbents

• Traders Joe’s: Large specialty grocer carrying its own freeze-dried fruit and snack SKUs at lower price points. Represents the private-label competitive threat to niche freeze-dried brands in retail channels.
• Mountain House: Established incumbent in freeze-dried meals for outdoor and emergency use, owned by Oregon Freeze Dry. Uses the same lyophilization technology at much larger scale, with overlapping outdoor and specialty retail customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AstronautFoods
• Instagraminstagram.com/astronauticecream
• Xx.com/astronautfoods
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/astronaut-foods-us

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Astronaut Foods