Theirs is an inception-story that’s incredibly endearing: When Joel Clark — the co-founder of Kodiak— was 10 years old, he adored his mom’s whole grain pancakes and thought others would appreciate them, too. So, his mom assembled a few brown-paper lunch-sacks of her homemade pancake-mix, and Joel put them in his little red wagon, and sold every single one, door-to-door, in his Salt Lake City neighborhood in Utah. That was in 1982.
“At that early stage, Joel was already entrepreneurial,” Sonali Dalvi — the current head of research and development (R&D) at Kodiak — pointed out. “He was very passionate about his mom’s recipe, and that’s indeed the foundation of Kodiak’s breakfast legacy.”
Sonali Dalvi
Head of Research and Development, Kodiak
Over 30 years, Kodiak has become a staple among premium breakfast brands, and earlier this year announced the launch of its new Homestyle Power Waffles. While Kodiak is well-known for its protein-packed breakfasts, Dalvi and her team wanted to address another growing trend among consumers while cooking up this latest menu item: a wariness about the proliferation of added sugar.
Never sacrificing flavor
In addition to providing 16g of protein (per serving size, which is two waffles), Kodiak’s new Homestyle Power Waffles most notably have no added sugar, too. But the trick they had to pull off here, Dalvi emphasizes, was to create a product that is not only health-forward, but also delicious, flavorful, and versatile.
“The idea for these waffles was to create a clean neutral base,” Dalvi — a food scientist — explained. “We used real, finely ground whole dates to provide a hint of sweetness and a more satisfying, rich flavor. While some may still reach for the syrup, the base is subtle enough to be dressed up for a savory meal, too.”
Either way, with 0g of added sugars (and only 2g of total sugars) per serving, Kodiak’s Homestyle Power Waffles are a delectable and relatively guilt-free indulgence.
“For us, taste is paramount,” Dalvi added. “30 years ago, companies were putting sugar in and on everything, but the trend’s now are going toward adding as little as possible while still maintaining great flavor.”
Fuel for the thoughtful eater
Part of Kodiak’s success can be attributed to its continual dedication to innovation. “Our development starts in our Park City kitchen with real pantry ingredients,” Dalvi said. “Together, our R&D team creates the original culinary recipe, and then the full team works to protect that experience. We want to ensure that when we scale up, the final product that our customers enjoy every day holds onto the same soul and flavor as the very first batch made in our kitchen.”
Catering to both consumers’ health-needs and their cravings has always been top-of-mind for Kodiak. According to a report by research-firm Innova Market Insights, high-protein quick-breakfast products make up “30% of product-launch claims.” Some experts also see the unabating rise of protein consumption as associated with the currently increasing usage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, given that the latter can cause loss of muscle mass, which can be tempered by augmenting protein intake.
However, that same report emphasizes that, “[at] 37%, wholegrain is the most common claim in quick-breakfast product launches alongside high-fiber launch claims at 20%, reflecting consumers’ continued focus on increasing fiber intake.” And that’s also a space where Kodiak has been thriving from the get-go. Now, with their no-added-sugar Homestyle Power Waffles, they’re appealing to the ultimate thoughtful eaters, whether those are active/healthy families, nutrition-obsessed athletes, or simply people who enjoy both outdoor activities and healthy food that doesn’t sacrifice taste.
“We focus on purposeful ingredients,” Dalvi added, “and we never use artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Instead we lean into better-for-you and nutrient-dense ingredients like whole grains and proteins, and natural sweetening sources, like honey, maple and date-powder.
Find Kodiak products in your local grocery aisles, or visit kodiakcakes.com
