603: Former KETO Foods Founder Arne Bey Explains Why His Thriving Low-Carb Company Went Away
Former KETO Foods low-carb food company founder and president Arne Bey is our guest today in Episode 603 of The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore!
[podcast]http://traffic.libsyn.com/llvlcshow/LLVLC-ep-603-arne-bey.mp3[/podcast]
If you’ve been eating a low-carb diet for at least the past six or seven years, then no doubt you remember the low-carb food company called KETO Foods. At one point back in the heyday of the low-carb food marketing trend, the company well-known for its quality low-carb shakes and other such foods was valued somewhere around $300-400 million dollars. But a series of factors (aside from the death of Dr. Atkins in 2003 and the decline in interest in low-carb food products) contributed to seeing this industry leader crumble and shut its doors for good. Learn more about the background of this story by reading this column by Arne Bey about how KETO got started, this Star-Ledger column on the demise of KETO Foods and my May 2006 blog interview with the former product development director for KETO Foods Pete Maletto about what really happened to KETO.
Then take a listen to what the founder and president of what was once one of the largest low-carb food companies in the world shared with Jimmy about what he believes happened to a once thriving company that was forced into closing its doors for good. If you ever wanted to know what happened to KETO, get the full scoop from the man who was at the helm when it all went down. Plus, don’t miss what Arne Bey has to say about the current state of low-carb, the opportunities for quality food products and where he sees this trend heading in the years to come. ENJOY!
VISIT DR. SPENCER NADOLSKY’S LEANER LIVING STORE:
NOTICE OF DISCLOSURE: http://cmp.ly/3LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE 603
– Support our sponsor: Dr. Spencer Nadolsky’s Leaner Living products
– Low-Carb Luxury column on the fall of Keto Foods
– RELATED BLOG POST: Interview with Peter Maletto: What REALLY Happened To KETO?
Well, manufactured food products, low-carb or not, are not match for natural, local foods. What we need is affordable channels of high quality, local food distribuition: grass fed meats, pastured eggs, even processed but stil traditional products stuff like cheeses or sausages. I am sure there is money to be made there. But low-carb shakes? No thanks. Jimmy, you keep repeating that thanks to Paleo, we started to understand the role of of high quality foods. You are right about it and it is the explanation.
You’re spot on Martin!
I was so absolutely disappointed with this interview with Arne Bay. It is ridiculous to call a product superior because of it’s protein profile, but then use artificial sweeteners, and then act as if helping people with obesity and their sweet tooth is noble. It isn’t about just helping people with obesity; obesity is rarely present without some other kind of clinical problem that wouldn’t be exacerbated by an artificial sweetener that is metabolized to sugar alcohol and formaldehyde! Not to mention Splenda only had 2 of 6 COMPLETED studies before the FDA gave the go-ahead to put it on the market.
I was really upset by the superiority complex this man had over this product line. I was listening to it in the car, and I couldn’t wait to get to my computer to comment on this!
I LOVE your show, Jimmy! You rank right up there with Mark Sisson, Robb Wolf and Relentless Roger! Thanks for all you do!
THANKS for your comments, Dr. Julia!
While I feel sorry for the disintegration of the company because I realize how difficult it must be on the people who work hard to make it as a success, I am afraid it was unavoidable. LC eating is bad for a business, people mostly snack less, eat less food with monetary value added by manufacturing. When I go to my local healthy food store where 90% of goods are organic junk, it is the only time when I am glad that vegetarians are around. It is they who keep the store in business. It is the only place in our city where I can buy a grass-fed liver, but my input is negligible.
I never bought any LC shake mix in my life. When to consume it? I eat two times a day, first meal is eggs and a butter, second – meat and a side dish. People with a sweet tooth could mix a protein powder, heavy cream and a sugar substitute without any need in a pre-packaged mix.
I thought it was a really interesting
story. Manufactured food products will not be going away anytime soon
and if people with the business knowledge can help shift packaged foods to lower
glycemic, sugar free choices that will help people transition and
reduce their overall sugar consumption, then its all positive. It is
important to help people make better choices but not from a moral
high ground.