A functional fruit spread built on collagen protein, prebiotic fiber, and no added sugar just got a significant commercial runway boost. Jam Packd took the grand prize at the second annual Blueberry Boost Accelerator, run by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council (USHBC) in partnership with innovation advisory firm VentureFuel. The pitch competition finale was held September 22–25 at the 2026 Blueberry Convention in Monterey, Calif., where Jam Packd also captured the fan vote from attendees sampling the product on the show floor.
The Prize Package
As grand prize winner, Jam Packd receives $20,000 in non-dilutive funding along with commercialization support and market-expansion resources — meaningful capital for an early-stage brand making the transition from direct-to-consumer into national retail. Runner-up Blue Rascal Distillery, a craft spirits producer featuring blueberries in premium brandy and liqueurs, earned $10,000 to widen distribution of its blueberry-forward portfolio.
Co-founders Brian and Michelle Platt positioned Jam Packd as a nutritional upgrade to an everyday pantry staple. Each jar starts with nearly two jars' worth of blueberries, and every serving delivers 8g of collagen protein, 6–7g of prebiotic fiber, and 21 plant-derived vitamins and minerals — all without added sugar. That proposition landed squarely within the broader functional food trend reshaping CPG shelves, where shoppers increasingly scrutinize ingredient lists and expect spreads, condiments, and staples to pull nutritional weight. For operators and retail buyers tracking functional beverage and food innovation, the jam category — pegged at more than $13 billion — has historically lagged behind bars, beverages, and snacks in absorbing better-for-you reformulation, making Jam Packd's positioning a potential category disruptor.
Inside the Accelerator
The Blueberry Boost Accelerator is an eight-week hybrid program designed to connect early-stage, revenue-generating brands that innovate with blueberries to leaders across food, food retail, and CPG. Participants in the cohort received professional brand assets including video commercials and sales materials, media exposure, one-on-one pitch coaching, and direct access to buyers and investors. The live finale panel included judges from Nanos, Oregon Berry Packing, California Giant Berry Farms, and Procter & Gamble.
"The experts we've met through the program have helped us think more strategically about our business and what comes next," said Brian Platt. "The prize money will help us introduce Jam Packd to more consumers, build brand awareness, and create momentum as we expand into more stores." Michelle Platt noted the timing was ideal: "The Blueberry Boost Accelerator came at an exciting time for Jam Packd as we make the leap from a direct-to-consumer brand into national retail."
Kevin Hamilton, USHBC vice president of global marketing and communications, said the program's second year showed entrepreneurs "taking even bigger steps — from developing differentiated products and exploring new formats to building brands with real potential for retail growth and scale." Fred Schonenberg, founder and CEO of VentureFuel, framed the win in market-development terms: "When founders have the right industry connections, expertise, and resources behind them, great products can become great businesses that create new demand for blueberries."
For hospitality and foodservice buyers watching emerging CPG brands enter retail channels, accelerator programs like this one are becoming a reliable signal of which ingredient-forward startups have the operational mentorship — not just the concept — to survive the jump to broader distribution. Jam Packd's dual win (judges and fan vote) suggests both expert validation and consumer pull, two metrics that matter when pitching category buyers.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
