Peanut butter is on the list of America's most favorite foods. From athletes to dieters to busy moms preparing school lunches, peanut butter and peanut butter products are a hit. Peanuts generate over 4 billion dollars towards the U. S. economy, with Americans consuming approximately 700 million pounds of peanut butter each year. This high-powered food can reduce the risk of heart disease and peanut butter products are an easy, affordable way to get protein and fiber into the diet. Peanut butter is loaded with a variety of vitamins and minerals. Consumption not only gives you energy but keeps you feeling fuller longer.

Churning out tasty, nutritional peanut butter should be the goal of peanut butter brands everywhere. However, peanut processing is an art. It takes continual practice and, sometimes, even years of experience to produce perfectly roasted nuts and a winning recipe. You can become a leader in the industry if you make sure the following are in place:

1. You understand industry standards and understand the issues surrounding peanut processing.

2. You can identify and adequately address risks associated with peanut butter production.

3. You possess functioning, high quality equipment for peanut processing and peanut butter production.

Action Steps
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Get information on the peanut and issues surrounding peanut processing

A lot of issues surround the peanut, small though it might be. Peanut butter companies occasionally face contamination issues. Peanut butter education and training is necessary to develop an effective combat plan.

I recommend: Join PTNPA (Peanut and Tree Nut Processing Association) to get industry information through newsletters and notice of seminars and trade shows. You can also get peanut news and information through the American Peanut Council. The Peanut Institute offers updated research, educational materials and recipes. National Peanut Board offers lesson plans for classroom instruction.

Obtain instruction in peanut butter production

Training in peanut butter production can help you identify and better address risks associated with the procedure. Ensure that your business does not fall into the poor food handling trap by creating an environment where employees do not follow food safety regulations.

I recommend: Peanut Butter Lovers gives a run-down on how companies make peanut butter. Get instructions on how to make peanut butter through Pick Your Own. Watch a video on YouTube about making peanut butter.

Locate and attend trade shows and conventions about peanuts and peanut butter products

Trade shows and conventions are a great way to connect with others in the peanut industry. Learn about other products and services while promoting your own and obtain information on the latest, state-of-the-art peanut processing equipment. You can also observe new trends and key in to opportunities to expand your business.

I recommend: Alabama Peanut Producers Association hosts an annual trade show that includes a segment on peanut production education. American Peanut Shellers Association has events for those interested in producing quality peanuts and peanut products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Organic peanut butter producers may want to employ the help of an Organic Certification Specialist to ensure products meet the standard of the organic food industry.
• •  Attending a class on peanut allergies would be beneficial to those involved in peanut butter production.

Peanut butter is as American as apple pie. Estimations indicate that the average American kid consumes a 125 foot high stack of peanut butter sandwiches by the time he reaches age 18. However, it isn't just Americans that like peanut butter. Peanut butter producers also report high sales in Canada, South America, Mexico, Central America, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, The Bahamas, North Africa, The Netherlands, the Philippines and Saudi Arabia.

Peanuts are a legume, not a nut. They are low on the carbohydrate glycemic scale, are high in protein, and contain heart-healthy mono-saturated fats. For health conscious customers, there is also natural peanut butter and organic peanut butter brands. In addition, for those customers with peanut allergies, there is a peanut butter substitute made with soy nuts.

Adding peanut butter sandwiches and other peanut butter products to your menu or store shelves is a great way to increase business. When purchasing peanut butter for your business, consider the following:

1. The health conscious level of your customers

2. How important brand recognition is with your customers

3. What other peanut butter products you can offer

Action Steps
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Decide what peanut butter companies to use

Brand recognition is often important to consumers. Well known peanut butter brands spend millions of dollars on advertising. Let their advertising pay off for your business by stocking your shelves with their products. If you are serving peanut butter sandwiches, put the brand of the peanut butter in your menu to help the sandwich sell.

I recommend: Skippy is a well known brand of peanut butter sold by Unilever since 1933. Jif, sold by The J.M. Smucker Company, is another well known peanut butter brand. They carry a full line including reduced fat and peanut butter with honey.

Stock natural, and other health conscious, peanut butter

The addition of natural peanut butter and organic peanut butter brands to your inventory increases sales. It is also a good idea to offer low fat varieties from organic peanut butter producers. Depending on how health conscious you feel your customers are, consider offering sugar free peanut butter as well as peanut butter with higher levels of omega 3.

I recommend: Smart Balance Inc sells a product called Omega Peanut Butter. Their product has high levels of omega 3 from added flax seed oil. The J.M. Smucker Company sells Adams Natural Peanut Butter and Adams Organic Peanut Butter.

Consider other peanut butter products

In addition to selling jars of peanut butter, or putting peanut butter sandwiches on your menu, you can increase your businesses sales by selling other peanut butter products. Peanut butter sauce is great for use as a topping on ice cream, as well as making peanut butter shakes, smoothies and lattes. Bake your own peanut butter cookies, using the peanut butter sauce, or purchase peanut butter cookies for re-sale.

I recommend: Superior Nut Company Inc. sells peanut butter sauce in 45 pound pails. Frito-Lay North America, Inc. sells Grandma's Peanut Butter cookies. These soft, large cookies are packaged two to a pack for ease of re-sale.

Locate peanut butter wholesalers

To get the best prices on peanut butter, check with wholesalers in your local area.

I recommend: Costco Wholesale Corporation and BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. are both great cash-and-carry wholesale outlets if they exist in your area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are adding peanut butter sandwiches to your menu, get creative in the choices. In addition to jelly, peanut butter is also paired well in sandwiches with any of the following: marshmallow fluff, raisins, honey, potato chips, bacon, and even mayonnaise.

Creamy or crunchy, everyone has a favorite preference when it comes to peanut butter. For many people, the most exciting of any peanut butter key terms is Reese's. However, that yummy chocolate covered peanut butter cup could not be enjoyed without the existence of peanut butter. These terms may not have the same affect on the salivary glands as Reese's does, but there is nothing to say you cannot sit back and savor one while exploring these other terms further.

Action Steps
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Runner peanuts

Runner peanuts are the type of peanut plant that produces the preferred peanuts for making peanut butter. The peanuts grow to be about the same size which makes for more even roasting and a better tasting peanut butter. The medium variety are used for peanut butter while the jumbos are often found in the shell on grocery shelves.

I recommend: The Peanut Advisory Board educates readers on the production of peanut butter from plant to the harvesting of the runner peanuts and on to the making of the peanut butter.

Process of preparing nut meal

The 'Process of Preparing Nut Meal' by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg is the first known and patented record of the process of making peanut butter. Considered groundbreaking in the creation and production of peanut butter, Kellogg's meal came far from resembling the project we know as peanut butter today. What Kellogg actually created was a two-product reduction of the peanut: the first product was a dry, powdery food and the second was a buttery paste, the flavor of which does not resemble peanuts at all.

I recommend: Practically Edible, a food encyclopedia, explores the history of peanut butter as well as the truth behind Kellogg's version of the product.

Skippy

The term Skippy may seem to be a familiar one but its significance spans far deeper than the recognizable label on jars in the supermarket. Skippy is the first brand of peanut butter to be manufactured and sold commercially. This process also included a step to incorporate the separated oil in with the peanut butter.

I recommend: Unilever walks interested readers through a history of Skippy peanut butter.

Dry blanching

Dry blanching is a special process done only to peanuts that are destined for peanut butter. After roasting, these chosen peanuts are blanched to remove skins and the kernel centers. This process enhances the richness of the peanut butter taste.

I recommend: StasoSphere expounds on what dry blanching is and how the process works in the making of peanut butter.

Grinding

To transition from hard, round nuts into a smooth creamy paste, the peanuts must undergo a grinding process. Peanuts are ground in two stages to prevent damaging the nuts, to ensure a fine grind and to incorporate additional ingredients. It is during this step that the decision is made for creamy or crunchy peanut butter.

I recommend: How Products Are Made describes the grinding process in depth and includes images of the process.

Glyceryl monostearate, GMS

Glyceryl monostearate (GMS), sometimes spelled glyceryl monstearate, is an additive included in peanut butter during production. It discourages separation of the peanut butter and its oils.

I recommend: For information on GMS and its current use in peanut butter, visit Liberty Chemicals.

There are numerous peanut butter brands on the market that you can use for your food service business. However, the most cost effective brand may not be the best brand for your business because some lesser brands contain artificial ingredients.

Regardless of the type of peanut butter you need, you must ensure that your budget is ready for the cost of this condiment. To help you prepare, consider the following peanut butter pricing and costs.

1. Save money by purchasing bulk peanut butter.

2. Purchase jars of peanut butter if your business doesn't use a lot.

3. Promote food safety with single serving size peanut butter.

4. Use peanut butter sauce in cooking and deserts.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase bulk peanut butter

Bulk peanut butter is available from numerous peanut butter producers. The majority of bulk peanut butter sold is natural peanut butter instead of fully processed artificial peanut butter.

I recommend: TrueHarvest.com sells 15 pound tubs of peanut butter starting at around $40 per container. True Foods Market sells organic peanut butter in 15 pound containers. Each container is around $75. If non-organic is your preference, these cost around $40 each.

Buy jars of peanut butter

If your business doesn't use a lot of peanut butter products, consider purchasing a case of jarred peanut butter. By doing this, you can ensure that you don't waste a lot of peanut butter. Make sure that you only purchase products from reputable peanut butter companies that offer FDA inspection reports.

I recommend: Food Service Direct is a peanut butter supplier sells jars of peanut butter by the case. You can expect to pay anywhere from $40 per case to $150 per case depending on the brand you choose. Sam's Club offers dual packs of jarred peanut butter or a single six pound jar for under $10.

Offer individual size peanut butter

If your establishment sells take out food, offering single serving size peanut butter minimizes cross contamination because employees don't have to dip into a jar. Additionally, these containers make it easier to control portion sizes.

I recommend: BuytheCase.net sells cases of single serving size peanut butter for around $40 per case. Smucker's sells single serving packs of peanut butter for around $50 per case.

Consider purchasing peanut butter sauce

Peanut butter sauce can be used to top ice cream. It can also be used to make some dishes, including Thai dishes and Japanese dishes. Because peanut butter sauce goes bad quickly, you must ensure that you don't over-purchase it and that you only purchase sauces from reputable peanut butter maker.

I recommend: Superior Nut Store sells a variety of peanut butter topping that can be used for baking or topping sundaes. Prices range from $15 for a 2.5 pound jar up to $700 for a 45 gallon container. You can find peanut butter sauce at WorldArtFoods.com. Prices start around $80 per case.