Ricky's Lucky Nuts Blog

2011-09-14T18:04:00.001-06:00

Looking for something to do this weekend? Run an ultramarathon in Steamboat, hob nob at the Snowmass Wine and Jazz fest, drink beer and get your blues on in Telluride, imbibe local wines in Palisade, be cool at Estes Park Film Fest. There is something for everyone here and chances are you will get a free bag of Ricky's Lcuky Nuts for attending!!! So cool!

EVENT	LOCATION	EVENT WEBSITE	DATE
Colorado Mountain Winefest	Palisade, Co	http://coloradowinefest.com/	9/15/2011 - 9/18/2011
Estes Park Film festival	Estes Park, CO	http://www.estesparkfilmfestival.com/	9/16/2011 - 9/18/2011
Blues & Brews	Telluride, CO	http://www.tellurideblues.com/	9/16/2011 - 9/18/2011
Second Wind Scramble	Purgatory Resort, Durango, CO	http://swffcc.thesecondwindfund.org/Race.html	9/17/2011
Snowmass Wine and Jazz festival	Snowmass, CO	http://snowmasswinefestival.com/	9/17/2011
Run Rabbit Run UltraMarathon and other running series races	Steamboat Springs, CO	http://www.steamboat50.com/, http://www.runningseries.com/contact	9/17/2011

2011-04-03T23:15:00.003-06:00

This is a cool story. Ricky's is sponsoring Megan and Mike Martin on a 5 month thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Megan and Mike are from South Carolina, married not even 2 years and out on a huge life-changing adventure. We got an email from Megan back in February inquiring as to whether Ricky's Lucky Nuts would donate product for their trip. We said most definitely - how can you say no to two people out on an adventure of a lifetime who are just in need of a little fuel to keep them going? After all, that is what Ricky's is all about too - for us, the owners, it is definitely a life adventure, and the product too - an adventure in flavor with "the nut like no other." M&M, as I will call them, tried our peanuts on a trip to Colorado last summer and loved them so we loaded them up with enough to last awhile and from Megan's reports our peanuts have been a great energy snack. At last blog post, they were well over 200 miles in and a little under 2000 left - Georgia to Maine, wow! You can check out M&M's experiences on their blog, but here are a few photos of our friends, decked out in Ricky's shwag of course. Just tonight, I got an email from another hiker who ran into M&M on the trail a few days ago. They told the hiker about Ricky's and he wanted to email us to let us know what great ambassadors M&M were for Ricky's. Pretty cool! Congratulations to M&M for taking a big leap of faith and reminding folks that life truly is all about the adventure. M&M's blog: http://ameganmartin.blogspot.com/

2011-03-15T19:28:00.000-06:00

WIN THE RICKY'S GOODIE BAG! Take this short (5 - 7 minutes) marketing survey and we will enter you to win a case of 2 ounce peanuts (flavor of your choice) plus a t-shirt plus a hat!! Here are the rules: Must be at least 18, have consumed Ricky's before and live in the continental US (that's where we can ship to if you win) and you can enter only once. Drawing is April 7th. Here is the link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Rickys2011

Ricky's Launches in Home Goods

2011-03-02T12:39:00.002-07:00

We've just landed our first national account: Home Goods! Look for us to be in stores nationwide by the end of March. Home Goods is stocked with one-of-a-kind furnishings and decorations for your home from around the world. Ricky's world of flavors will now be available too!

Cutting Edge Technology and Modern Art (well kind of )

2011-03-02T10:20:00.002-07:00

The National Peanut Board invited Ricky's Lucky Nuts to participate in a cool event called the Nutripolitan Museum of Art. This is the brainchild of those smart guys over at Peanut Butter & Co., who by the way make some awesome peanut butter! We sent samples for the press goodie bags along with our own "nut art" entitled "Peanuts Observe Peanuts as Art." Very avant garde I know! Since the show is being held March 4 - 6th (http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/nutropolitan) at the Peanut Butter & Co. Restaurant in Greenwich Village - just one of the coolest and hippest neighborhoods on earth so we decided to step it up another notch and start using quick response codes because they are only the latest and greatest smart phone app to hit the pavement. We will start using these all the time in print material now. We have some really fun viral campaigns coming up this year... all about adventure. Ours? The Adventure of Flavor. Yours? Well you tell us. Stay tuned for details but it will be fun.

Starbucks and Ricky's

2011-01-26T11:08:00.003-07:00

This morning I got a link for "My Starbucks Idea"

http://mystarbucksidea.force.com/ideaview?id=08750000000GuLHAA0

A cousin of Paul's (thank you Adam!) added our Cocoa & Vanilla Bean Peanuts as an idea suggestion for Starbucks. We have such a great family and group of friends that continue to cheer us on here at Ricky's, buying our peanuts as holiday gifts, becoming Facebook fans, telling all their friends about us. We are so fortunate to have that kind of moral support. Thank you family and friends for everything!!!

Winter Fancy Food Show 2011

2011-01-25T16:47:00.004-07:00

It has been way too long since I have posted anything. Where to find the time between marketing, sales, operations, maintenance of the website and facebook? The blog just gets forgotten. New resolution for 2011: post more often! Ricky's is rockin' these days. The year is off to a great start with some great new accounts and ongoing sales from existing accounts. We sell in some really interesting stores and not just because they buy our peanuts. We have had the opportunity to get to know buyers, managers, owners and employees personally and we are really fortunate to have solidified relationships with so many interesting, kind, hard working individuals. The food industry may be tough but it is full of great characters and we continue to enjoy the hard work we put into Ricky's because of the people we get to associate with.

Paul just returned from the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. This is the mother of all specialty food shows and we went as the invited guest of the National Peanut Board, a true honor. The NPB is entirely funded by farmers and exists to promote peanuts. They have a very cool website http://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/ with really useful info on peanuts.

The show was a great success, long days, lots of contacts, lots of peanut pushing but we came back with some great leads and are busy following up on all of them. Because of the show, an international distributor is now taking our peanuts to the ISM Show in Cologne, Germany this weekend and then on to Dubai for the Gulf Food Show next month. So cool!

But it is not all about international sales. We are following up on some exciting independent and national chain accounts. Our work for 2011 is cut out for us that is for sure!

2010-05-08T23:34:00.000-06:00

Check out Ricky's Lucky Nuts latest press release:

Ricky’s Lucky Nuts introduces a brand new flavor to its popular snack peanut collection—Cocoa & Vanilla Bean. The new and trendy peanut snack company has paired two separately delicious glazed peanuts—rich, dark cocoa and sweet, real vanilla bean—to deliver a unique and distinctive snack peanut like no other.

“I think we’ve revolutionized the snack peanut and transformed it into a flavor adventure,” says Paul Gelose, founder of Ricky’s Lucky Nuts. “Our Cocoa & Vanilla Bean All Natural Peanuts have an addicting flavor that will define an entirely new choice of snack peanut.”

Ricky’s Lucky Nuts’ Cocoa & Vanilla Bean peanuts satisfy the sweet tooth and chocolate craving without the extra sugar and saturated fats loaded within the average chocolate bar. The cocoa peanuts are glazed with organic, fair trade cocoa sourced from sustainable growers in Peru, while the vanilla peanuts are seasoned with real vanilla bean and organic vanilla powder extract. As with all flavors of Ricky’s Lucky Nuts, the Cocoa & Vanilla Bean ingredient list is gluten-free and all-natural: Peanuts, Sugar, Organic Cocoa Powder, Salt, Organic Vanilla Powder Extract, Natural Vanilla Bean.

Ricky’s Lucky Nuts uses only the finest natural ingredients, a belief that remains strong with the introduction of the Cocoa & Vanilla Bean flavor. The existing product line includes 4 savory flavors: The Original Style, Bombay Curry Coconut, Spicy Chile Chipotle and Black Pepper & Salt.

Ricky’s Lucky Nuts ensures that their snack peanut is not only tasty, but is a healthy snack option. The peanuts are dry-roasted with no added oil, which means there are zero trans-fats and zero cholesterol. Nearly 80% of the fat naturally occurring in peanuts is unsaturated fat—the good fat—which may actually help lower LDL cholesterol. Ricky’s Lucky Nuts are a good source of Omega 6 fatty acids that may help reduce the risk of heart disease and an excellent protein source.

The 2-ounce grab-n-go snack bag is for the on-the-go consumer. Our savory flavors are ideal protein-rich afternoon “pick-me-up’s” and our new Cocoa & Vanilla Bean is a healthy breakfast alternative for the drive into work when you didn’t have time to make breakfast at home. Ricky’s Lucky Nuts can be a perfect solution for moms looking for a healthy replacement of chips or cookies in the lunch box. We also have found a market for athletes, particularly cyclists, who need tasty but compact snacks that provide plenty of energy and taste a lot better than energy bars.

Product Availability

Cocoa & Vanilla Bean will be available April, 2010. Ricky’s Lucky Nuts in six and two-ounce packages are available at select Whole Foods, HEB's, Albertsons, City Markets, Tony’s Markets and Pharmacy Integrative Pharmacies, as well as independent groceries, specialty shops and fine hotels. They are also available on line at Amazon.com or at www.rickysluckynuts.com. Interested distributors and retailers should contact Ricky’s Lucky Nuts at (888) 756-6887. For more information contact Anne at 970-749-0991 or pr@rickysluckynuts.com

2010-01-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

FREE PEANUTS!!! Get 'em while the gettin's good! Go to www.rickysluckynuts.com and click on Nutty Superbowl Sampler for details!

2009-12-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

GREAT PEANUT SALE!

Nature's Oasis, Durango's finest natural foods store, has Ricky's Lucky Nuts on sale. All flavors of 6 ounce are on sale for $2.69 a bag thru December 15, 2009. They make great stocking stuffers!

Fried Turkey, French Green Beans And Football For Thanksgiving

2009-11-02T19:16:00.000-07:00

And now add Ricky's Lucky Nuts! Just imagine the relish tray this year... Hmm... Typical ingredients come to mind: pickles, some white stuff and maybe a garnish or two. Wow, that sounds exciting - yeah right! Imagine a relish tray that's actually interesting and then add a little football to the mix. What do you have? Ricky's Lucky Nuts and an appreciative crowd of family and friends.

It is time to get creative this year! Instead of the same-old ingredients, try spicing it up a little. What's more, you're adding a little something to the party - spice. For a cool Thanksgiving day, warm your football fans up with a bag of spicy chipotle peanuts. Next to the chipotle, you could also add the black pepper variety too. Whatever the case, if you're mission is to please a group of football fans, then make it unique with Ricky's Lucky Nuts.

Thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/ktylerconk/2198250709/ for the amazing football picture!

The Last Pedal To The First Peanut

2009-10-22T15:11:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, as my husband and I often do, we set out for a weekend of camping and mountain biking. Our destination: Fruita, Colorado, Loma exit, Kokopeli trail system. I normally ride Mary’s Loop – gorgeous desert views, blue skies, orange and purple cliffs, and the emerald green Colorado River below.

Proud of myself for riding better than last time, I followed my husband on the Horsethief Loop. His praises did wonders and against my better judgment, I kept following on him on one trail extension to another. Somewhere just into the 4th hour of our ride, my smile faded fast. I was tired, and hungry and this uphill climb seemed like it was never going to end. Every little rock in the trail seemed like a boulder blocking my path. I was pouty. Then my petal hit my shin and pouty became an understatement. Sensing that I was on the verge of collapse, my husband told me to stay straight up the hill and I would end up on the shortcut back to the trailhead.

Mustering up my strength, I made it to the road, but soon realized, this “shortcut’ dumped me out on a very hot and dusty dirt road with at least another hour of riding ahead. I had to somehow distract myself as I turned onto the road that stretched forever. Dust was blowing and my stomach was growling. I began to think of my reward when I got back to the truck – what snacks were awaiting me….?

My smile suddenly came back when I remembered our supply of Ricky’s Lucky Nuts that I tossed in our camping bin. Oh yes! The desert was flying past me now as I thought about Bombay Coconut, distracting myself with the places all the flavors evoke – traveling thru the subcontinent, spice markets, exotic aromas, and surprising flavor combinations, Ooh, and coconut – white sand beaches, tropical adventure, and pina coladas….And Spicy Chilie Chipotle…it’s early fall and the desert reds and oranges remind me that those colorful peppers are being roasted right now in a timeless tradition deep in the heart of Mexico.

All these thoughts have my mouth watering for that first zest of flavor, the sweet and salty reward that will make all these hours of riding worth every bead of sweat. I crest a hill on the road and stop to catch my breath and look out on to the horizon. Out in the distance is the trailhead and parking lot! I had made it! I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. All the cars and trucks were shimmering in the heat waves, and to me they looked like little colorful peanuts, glazed with exotic spices, dry roasted in the beautiful desert sun….

The Difference Is HUGE!!!

2009-10-18T19:06:00.002-06:00

What do people say about Ricky's Lucky Nuts when they try them for the first time? Many things come to mind, but one fact is for sure, it is always original! People realize that a peanut can be tasteful and different... Instead of the same old salt, we add spice, many spices to the peanut. Our flavors are what make each reaction different. In other words, just like a unique spice, the experience of a Ricky's Lucky Nut is, well, unique too...

For fall, think about some real spice!

This is savory, salty, sweet with a kick. Ripened red jalapenos are smoke-dried and ground into a fine powdered spice known as chipotle. With origins deep in Mexican cuisine, this spice is milder than fresh jalapeños, but still provides a bit of a burn. Combined with sugar and salt, it's cacahuates with a kick!

Ever thought about c

2009-10-18T19:06:00.001-06:00

Ever thought about combining spices and nuts? Try some of our newest blends...

Some good things abo

2009-10-18T18:24:00.001-06:00

Some good things about a nice fall day... It just says, "grab me a bowl full of peanuts and warm apple cider..."

Welcome To Ricky's Blog

2009-10-07T06:28:00.000-06:00

Goobers... That's what peanuts were once called, before the ingenious George Washington Carver brought the peanut from out of obscurity and into the spotlight of American culture and cuisine. Peanuts are as American as baseball and apple pie but are also loved around the world. So it occurred to us, it was high time the peanut got an all new, international makeover. It all started when my good friend Rick shared his special recipe for the Original Style Lucky Nut with me and has grown into an entire line of all natural U.S. grown blanched peanuts uniquely seasoned with spices from around the globe. We strive for quality, simplicity and goodness in each bag and we hope you too will find our peanuts to be “a nut like no other.” - Chef Paul

So much like our uncommon peanut, we are looking for the not-so-common story. Perhaps you have a nutty experience at a ball game, a bar or on the mountain? What about a mountain bike adventure where all your friends had were stale performance bars, and you had spicy peanuts. Maybe you have a camping memory involving some good peanuts around a warm campfire. Whatever it is, you'll find these stories here...

Welcome to the blog and stay tuned!