Local Focus: Ka-Pop!

Fans of ABC's series Shark Tank may recognize Ka-Pop! and founder Dustin Finkel from their appearance on the program earlier this year. A former investment banker, Dustin began his food career here in Minnesota, at General Mills, where he worked on the Chex cereal brand. He led that team to success in 2008 as Rice Chex became the nation’s first mainstream gluten-free cereal. Today Dustin teaches business at University of Colorado Boulder, where he lives with his wife, Christina (who attended the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management and also worked at General Mills), and their two young sons.

Ka-Pop! was developed out of a desire to craft snacks that were healthy but not boring. Their popped chips are made from 100% U.S.-grown sorghum, a gluten-free ancient grain with an edible husk. Densely nutritious and high in protein, fiber and antioxidants, sorghum is also a uniquely sustainable crop. It requires little to no irrigation and improves the health of the soil in which it's grown.

Most importantly, this clean snack, which is free of the top 12 food allergens, is delicious! (We think the vegan Cheddar flavor tastes just like the puffed cheese snacks we ate as kids!)