PUBLISHED JULY 7, 2016
Former cop turns hobby into growing business
By LOIS KINDLE
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Valrico resident Kyle Stanford, left, and Riverview resident Frank Price are the owners of Stanford’s Jerky, a company that manufactures five distinctive flavors of USDA-certified premium London broil beef jerky in Tampa near Brandon.
Kyle Stanford was a Bradenton police officer when he was injured in an arrest that went awry. He “blew out” his knee, went through five major surgeries and was left with a permanent disability after eight years on the job. No longer able to run or squat, his dream of being a cop was over.
But a new dream was on the horizon.
The Valrico resident was introduced to Frank Price, general manager of an Anytime Fitness franchise in Plant City. Stanford began working out at the gym and mentioned to Price how he loved to make beef jerky.
“I had never had it before,” the Chicago native and Riverview resident said. “He started bringing samples to the gym for me and others to try. It was really, really good.”
Price enjoyed the jerky so much, he approached Stanford about starting a business together. A new career for both men was born in late 2014.
“I had no intention of starting a business when I brought those samples to the gym,” said Stanford, who had made his beef jerky as a hobby for 20 years. “After we talked about it, I began selling it in sealed bags to gym customers and taking it to events, like car shows, bike shows and farmers markets.”
Stanford’s Jerky was becoming a hit, Price said, and many who purchased it called back to refer friends.
COURTESY PHOTO
Kyle Stanford, a former Bradenton police officer injured in the line of duty, began making beef jerky as a hobby 20 years ago before turning it into a business in 2014 with his friend Frank Price.
The guys signed up as vendors at Cimino Elementary School’s Fall Fest, where they gave out samples to passersby.
“Judging by the lines of people, we were the most popular booth there,” Price said.
With the seeds of Stanford’s Jerky firmly planted, the men now needed a commercial kitchen to take their growing business to the next level. They found one in a manufacturing industrial area at 501 S. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, where they developed the product’s current packaging and became the first and only USDA-certified beef jerky company in Hillsborough County. There are five such companies throughout the state.
The two friends make and sell five distinctive flavors of jerky, all of which are made of USDA-certified premium London broil: Southern, Teriyaki, Slow Burn, Campfire and Honest JD. The latter was suggested by J. D. Stanford, Stanford’s father, who suggested a touch of bourbon as a jerky flavoring.
Stanford is currently experimenting with alligator, he said, and added a venison jerky is on the way.
“Our goal is to provide the most delicious and flavorful beef jerky in the country,” he said. “We use only the premium London broil and a perfect blend of seasonings. There are no artificial ingredients, nitrates, MSG, food colors or preservatives.”
The jerky has a six-month shelf life. It’s available online at www.stanfordsjerky.com in 1.5-ounce bags for $4.99 or 4-ounce bags for $8.99. Shipping is $5.99, regardless of how much you order. It can also be purchased at www.Amazon.com and retails at Wolfe’s Produce Market, 6005 U.S. 301 S., Riverview.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Stanford’s Jerky five flavors are Southern, Teriyaki, Honest JD, Slow Burn and Campfire, not pictured. All natural, it has no artificial ingredients, nitrates, MSG, food colors or preservatives.
Other locations and a distributor with an established route are currently being sought.
Stanford’s Jerky also is sold at events like the Ruskin Seafood Festival, Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts, Pigs in the Parking Lot and RibFest in Tampa. The guys’ next South Shore gig will be Christmas in July at the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce. The event will take place both indoors and outdoors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1651 Sun City Center Plaza.
All events are listed on the company’s Facebook page.
For additional information, email Stanford at kyle@stanfordsjerky.com, or call 813-817-5953. Price can be reached at frank@stanfordsjerky.com, or by calling 630-291-0597.
