NEW YORK — Blue Stripes Urban Cacao, a Hershey-backed developer of cacao-based food and beverage products, is launching more than a dozen items at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, marking its first significant retail expansion since its direct-to-consumer debut less than two years ago.
A self-described “Columbus of cacao,” Israel native-turned-New Yorker Oded Brenner has spent the past few years discovering new applications for the oft-underutilized fruit, much of which typically is discarded in cocoa production. Product development explores the potential of the three components of the fruit: the shell or husk, the fruity white pulp and the beans. The brand is recognized by the Upcycled Food Association for its efforts in minimizing waste.
