Startup CPG Newswire:
The Hermit Relaunches Wild-Caught Calamari Jerky with Improved Texture

PRESS RELEASE — NEWS PROVIDED BY Steven Shonts for The Hermit Calamari Jerky

RENO, NEVADA (MAY 2026) — The Hermit, the Reno-based maker of wild-caught American calamari jerky, today relaunched their core product line in a limited 500-bag run across its three existing flavors: Italian Herb, Ginger Scallion, and Thai Chili Lime. The release marks the company’s first batch since reformulating its drying process to address texture feedback from early customers.

The new batch keeps every ingredient and nutritional profile unchanged — 31 grams of protein, 12 grams of collagen, 488mg of EPA and DHA omega-3s, and zero added sugar per two-ounce bag — but introduces a refined chew that reduces what some customers had described as “gumminess” in earlier production runs. Pricing remains at $11.99 per bag with free shipping on orders over $65.

“When the first batch went out, the texture wasn’t quite where we wanted it — and a handful of customers told us so. Going back to the smokehouse felt more important than going out with new SKUs. This batch is a small one, and on purpose. It goes to the people who gave us that feedback first,” said Steven Shonts, founder of The Hermit.

The Hermit sources 100% wild-caught, MSC-certified American calamari from domestic fisheries with documented low-bycatch profiles. Per published lifecycle analyses, squid protein carries roughly one-fiftieth the greenhouse-gas footprint of land-based meat protein, requires no freshwater, no agricultural land, and no food crops as feedstock — making it one of the most carbon-efficient animal proteins available to American consumers. A portion of every Hermit sale is donated to the Save Andaman Network, a Thai-based NGO working to end illegal fishing and exploitative labor in international fishing vessels.

The 500-bag release is intentionally limited and is being distributed via email to the company’s existing subscriber base, including approximately 2,000 contacts acquired through a 2025 partnership sweepstakes with BlueDot Living, a sustainable-lifestyle media publication. No paid advertising is planned for this release. A wider production run is expected in June 2026.

The Hermit’s three flavors — Italian Herb (savory, herbaceous), Ginger Scallion (savory, earthy, balanced), and Thai Chili Lime (aromatic, spicy, bold) — were developed in collaboration with chefs working in the wild-seafood and Pacific-coast culinary tradition. The product is keto- and paleo-compliant, gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free, and contains no artificial preservatives.

The batch is available now at thehermit.com, while supplies last.

About The Hermit

The Hermit is an independent calamari-jerky company founded in Reno, Nevada in 2025, built around the conviction that wild-caught American squid is one of the most overlooked sustainable proteins on the planet. The company’s products are sold direct-to-consumer through its website and are available in a number of independent retailers across the country. The Hermit donates a portion of every sale to the Save Andaman Network in support of ethical fisheries.

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