Shār Snacks

What Shār Snacks does

Shār Snacks is a privately held, Austin, Texas-based consumer packaged goods company that produces organic, plant-based trail mixes targeted at outdoor enthusiasts and environmentally conscious consumers willing to pay a premium for sustainable packaging. The company was founded in 2016 (legal entity: Pete's Nuts, Inc.) by Peter Rushford, a former professional skier with 37 years of outdoor industry experience, after three years and 52 recipe iterations to perfect a nine-ingredient blend of organic nuts, wild berries, and ethically sourced dark chocolate. The product portfolio spans five recipes (Original, Tropical, Savory, Summer Blend, and Chocolate Clusters) plus a Build Your Own custom blend feature, distributed across five packaging formats — refillable Shār Tubes, compostable bags, compostable mini-bag 6-packs, refillable boxes, and refillable glass jars — that together form a proprietary zero-waste snacking system using 100% plastic-free, plant-based-ink materials.

The company's core technical differentiator is its packaging architecture rather than food technology. The Shār Tube is described as a first-of-its-kind refillable, biodegradable tube that breaks down in 6–9 months, supported by a broader Sustainable Snacking System spanning tube, bag, and jar formats designed for interoperability. Production is small-batch and handcrafted in Austin using a 32-year-old wooden mixing bowl, with ingredient sourcing concentrated in a network of small family-owned organic farms and Guittard Chocolate (a fifth-generation San Francisco chocolatier in operation since 1868). All products are USDA-certified organic, vegan, non-GMO, and gluten-free.

Shār Snacks monetizes through a hybrid direct-to-consumer and wholesale model. DTC revenue comes from one-time e-commerce purchases via a Shopify storefront (sharsnacks.com) with international shipping and a Subscribe and Save subscription program offering 20% off the first order and 10% recurring discounts across monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, and bi-monthly cadences. Wholesale revenue is generated through distribution to 1,200+ retailers, hotels, and boutiques across all 50 US states — including Whole Foods Market, REI Co-op, and Erewhon — supplemented by a Faire-based wholesale channel. Pricing spans $8.99 per 3.7 oz tube to $275 per 11 lb refillable jar. The company is a Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral certified, a 1% For The Planet member, and donates 20% of net profits annually to the Conservation Alliance, with sustainability positioning serving as both a brand pillar and a pricing-power lever. No external funding rounds have been disclosed, and the company appears to be entirely founder-owned and bootstrapped.

Name

Shār Snacks

Legal name

Pete's Nuts, Inc.

Website

https://sharsnacks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shār Snacks is an Austin-based, founder-owned CPG company producing organic plant-based trail mixes in five flavors, sold through a proprietary plastic-free packaging system via DTC e-commerce, subscriptions, and over 1,200 specialty retailers in the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Trail Mix Snacks

NAICS

Snack Food Manufacturing (31191)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Nuts, Seeds & Trail Mix Snacks (CRADABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Trail Mix & Snack Mix Manufacturing (AFAKAIAG)

Keywords

• Organic trail mix
• Plant-based snacks
• Sustainable packaging
• Plastic-free snacks
• Direct-to-consumer snacks

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase of trail mix products sold in various formats (tubes, bags, boxes, jars) through e-commerce and retail channels.
2. Subscription/Recurring Revenue: Subscribe and Save program offering 20% discount on first order and 10% recurring discount with monthly, bi-weekly, weekly, or bi-monthly delivery options.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Products sold through wholesale channels to over 1,200 retailers, hotels, and boutiques across all 50 states including Whole Foods Market, REI Co-op, and Erewhon.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shār Snacks produces and sells organic, plant-based trail mixes and snacks in 100% plastic-free, reusable packaging. The product line includes five recipe variants (Original, Tropical, Savory, Summer, Chocolate Clusters) and a Build Your Own custom blend, offered across refillable tubes, compostable bags, boxes, and glass jars. Products are small-batch handcrafted in Austin, TX and sold direct-to-consumer, via subscription, and through wholesale to specialty retailers.

Product overview

Shār Snacks is a direct-to-consumer snack company offering premium organic trail mixes through multiple sustainable packaging formats. The core product portfolio consists of five trail mix varieties (Original Recipe, Tropical Blend, Savory Blend, Summer Blend, and Chocolate Clusters) plus a Build Your Own custom blend option. These are sold through five packaging formats—Refillable Tubes (3.7 oz), Compostable Bags (1.0 lb, 2.5 lb), Compostable Mini Bags (1.5 oz 6-packs), Refillable Boxes (6.0 lb), and Refillable Glass Jars (2.5 lb, 11 lb)—forming a complete zero-waste snacking system. The company also sells branded merchandise (apparel, accessories) and gift cards. All products are USDA certified organic, vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free, and plastic-free packaged.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chocolate Clusters: Organic, vegan snack combining trail mix ingredients with antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.

Products and services

• Original Recipe Trail Mix The flagship trail mix featuring a blend of rich roasted nuts, wild-harvested berries, and ethically sourced dark chocolate. Small-batch and handcrafted in Austin, TX. Designed for consumers seeking healthy, sustainable on-the-go snacks.
• Tropical Blend Trail Mix A fruity trail mix featuring mango, coconut, cashews, and a hint of citrus. Light, refreshing, and packed with plant-powered energy. Targeted at consumers wanting a non-chocolate, fruit-forward snack.
• Savory Blend Trail Mix A savory trail mix with herbs, sea salt, and roasted crunch. Made with real, organic ingredients without sugar. Aimed at consumers seeking a no-sweet, flavor-forward snack.
• Summer Blend Trail Mix A seasonal warm-weather trail mix with crunchy, bright, heat-friendly ingredients without chocolate. Crafted for summer adventures and outdoor use.
• Chocolate Clusters Energy-dense nutrients of the signature trail mix wrapped in smooth, antioxidant-rich dark chocolate. A sweet and satisfying treat combining organic nuts and dried fruits with chocolate indulgence.
• Build Your Own Custom Blend

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% of net profits donated annually to Conservation Alliance for environmental conservation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Conservation AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShār Snacks is a member of the Conservation Alliance and donates 20% of net profits annually to support conservation efforts. This partnership aligns with the company's earth-first ethos and commitment to environmental protection.
• 1% For The PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShār Snacks is a member of 1% For The Planet, committing to share 1% of sales to non-profits making sure the planet thrives. This membership demonstrates the company's pledge to give back to environmental causes.
• Climate NeutralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShār Snacks is a certified carbon neutral company through Climate Neutral certification, measuring and offsetting carbon emissions annually to maintain carbon neutrality.
• Guittard ChocolatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFifth-generation artisan chocolatier in San Francisco supplying 55% cocoa dark chocolate chips for Shār Snacks trail mixes. The Guittard family has been making chocolate since 1868, producing small-batch, fair trade-certified dark chocolate.
• Family-Owned Organic Farms NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of small, family-owned organic farms supplying ingredients: Big Tree Organics (almonds, Turlock CA), Rio Grande Organics (pecans, TX), Dongnai Organics (cashews, Vietnam), Santa Barbara Pistachios (CA), Royal Ridge Fruit (wild blueberries, WA), Cape Farm Supply (cranberries, MA), Katana Farms (coconut, Sri Lanka). All farms committed to sustainable and ethical practices.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Navitas Organics: Organic superfood snacks including trail mixes, nuts, and dried fruits. Comparable on organic sourcing, premium positioning, and DTC-plus-specialty-retail distribution.
• Purely Elizabeth: Premium DTC brand offering organic granola, trail mixes, and granola bars with whole-food ingredients and refined packaging. Most directly comparable to Shār on positioning, channel mix (DTC + specialty retail), and clean-label premium narrative.
• Sahale Snacks: Premium trail mix and nut-based snack brand sold through DTC and natural/specialty retail. Competes head-to-head with Shār in the better-for-you trail mix category at Whole Foods and similar channels.
• MadeGood: Organic, allergen-friendly snack brand (bars, granola, cookies) sold in mass and natural retail. Overlaps with Shār on organic, non-GMO, and school-friendly positioning and similar retail distribution.
• High Bar (Eight Star): Organic, plant-based snack bar brand with similar ingredient sourcing and clean-label ethos. Competes in adjacent snack format with overlapping target customer (active, health-conscious consumers).
• Backpacker's Pantry / Backcountry Food Co. Outdoor-adventure-focused food brand. Comparable on target customer (outdoor enthusiasts like hikers/climbers) and partial product overlap with trail-mix-adjacent categories.

Broad incumbents

• Patagonia Provisions: Sustainability-focused food brand from Patagonia. Comparable on environmental ethos and outdoor-consumer targeting; broader portfolio (salmon, grains, jerky) makes it an incumbent in the sustainable outdoor food space rather than direct competition.
• KIND Snacks (Mars): Large incumbent premium snack brand now owned by Mars. Competes for the same premium-nutrition-snack consumer at retail but with significantly broader portfolio, larger marketing budget, and mainstream distribution.
• Justin's (Hormel/Held): Established organic nut butter and snack brand. Comparable on natural/specialty retail presence, premium clean-label positioning, and outdoor-lifestyle brand associations.

Others

• Thrive Market: DTC organic and natural foods marketplace. Functions as both a potential retail distribution partner for Shār and an indirect competitor capturing sustainability-minded consumer food spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharsnacks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Shār Snacks