![]() ![]() When still in the NFL, Kelly hosted free football camps for the kids in his hometown of Aberdeen, Mississippi, as a reward for academic excellence. It was at a community event where the first seeds were sown for Kyvan. Why can’t we leave a legacy behind in the food industry and why not name this food company Kyvan,” says Kelly. “We always wanted to leave a legacy behind to our kids. Rob Ben’s Builds Family Ties for Oakland’s Favorite Son Marshawn LynchĪ combination of the names of Kelly’s two children, his daughter Kyla and son Kavan, the company is a legacy Kelly and his wife want to leave for their children.Former NFL Star Jarvis Green Tackles Culinary Industry with Ocean 97 Brand.“They knew I didn’t know much about the industry, but they could see my fire, my attention to detail, which I credit to my background in football…we have been doing business with Walmart ever since.” ![]() But within three months, an opportunity to present products to the world’s largest retailer came along. ![]() Kelly remembers the first customer was a small independent retailer in Columbus, Mississippi. Kelly, his wife Sheila, and a team of supporting staff and partners run the company. Kyvan makes all of its products in the United States and sources all ingredients nationally. “We would also like to increase our foodservice platform … because of the pandemic, the foodservice sector has been hit fairly hard, but we know there is still some opportunity, so we want to make sure we leverage those opportunities to continue to grow to be a national brand.” “What we want to do in 2021 is to continue to increase our brand awareness digitally and beef up our online platform because of what has happened with the coronavirus in 2020…to make our products more accessible to online shoppers,” he shares. “My family always told me, when you cook, make sure you do it with love, make sure you do it in a way that first-time visitors feel a part of our family.” Pictured: Products by Kyvan Foods | Photo credit: Kyvan Foods What’s the Game Plan?Īnd it’s that tenet Kelly considers fundamental to all products available at Kyvan. Kelly’s earliest food influences are fond memories, hailing from a close-knit family, where every event was an excuse to get together to cook and eat. “I enjoy people tasting our family recipes and telling us this takes me back to being a kid. Founded in 2011 in response to his teammates’ requests for family recipes on a larger scale, the retired sportsman is now hoping to take the brand nationally. But former NFL tight end Reggie Kelly helps accomplish that as the founder of Atlanta, Georgia-based Kyvan Foods, where products include salsa, sauces, seasonings and other related offerings. Rare is the occasion that professional football and specialty foods can be uttered in the same sentence. Former NFL player brings his good food game to retail, service sectors. ![]()
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