A central Pa. couple is taking their bold and ethnic-inspired rice blends and seasonings to the next level.
Obi and Nicole Linton, owners of Nicobi Foods, LLC, won two golden tickets Wednesday at Walmart’s Open Call. The 11th annual event was held in Bentonville, Arkansas, and gives entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their products in hopes of landing a spot on the retailer’s shelves.
“The Walmart associates embraced us and our products with such genuine excitement. Their support has been amazing, and we’re incredibly grateful for how warmly they’ve welcomed us,” Obi Linton said.
The Linton’s products, including Jerk Rice, Seasoned Yellow Rice, Spanish Rice and mild and spicy Soul Dust All-Purpose Seasoning, will be sold at select Walmart stores. They also said Walmart is considering them for future expansion into Sam’s Club stores.
More than 500 entrepreneurs participated in the 2024 Open Call, and each one was given 30 minutes to pitch their products to Walmart buyers.
The Lintons encountered a surprise guest, “Shark Tank’s” Daymond John, a fixture on the long-running television show. They said he supported their vision, offered advice, and called their pitch “excellent.”
“Pitching to Daymond John was an experience I’ll never forget. We’ve looked up to him for years as an entrepreneur, and to be put on the spot by Walmart because they believed in our passion was incredible. We stepped up and hit a home run,” Nicole Linton said.
The Lintons said they entered the contest to springboard their brand and open doors.
“We knew this could take our business to new heights and help us share our bold, ethnic-inspired flavors with more people than ever before,” they said.
The couple developed the line after noticing a lack of low-sodium products with flavor. The company operates under the motto, “Flavored with Love.”
The jerk sauce and rice were developed in 2008 during a trip to Jamaica where the Lintons met and took a personal lesson from a chef at Scotchies Restaurant in Montego Bay. He showed them how to make jerk seasoning and rice, creating the basis for Nicobi’s recipes.
The products do not contain additives or stabilizers and are vegan and gluten-free. Nicobi’s products are sold in more than 1,000 stores, including Giant, Karns, Food Lion and Stop & Shop.
Before they became heads of a food brand, the Lintons operated Soul Burrito. They opened a food truck in 2008 and later restaurants but in 2021 they sold the business, including a restaurant in Susquehanna Township and two food trucks.
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Publish date : 2024-09-26 04:41:00
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