DATE:          7/6/00
CONTACT:       Robert Stoddard, (864) 422-6177
WRITER:        Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741
  
Clemson Extension helps Lucky's
put peanuts in a better bag
  
     GREENVILLE -- Would you eat boiled peanuts that have been 
kept on the shelf for six years?  You could, if they're Lucky's 
Gourmet Goobers.
     Lucky's is the brainchild of Robert Stoddard, who once sold 
boiled peanuts from a trailer on weekends. Thanks to help from 
the Clemson Extension Service, the company has a space-age package 
that gives his boiled peanuts a very long shelf life. 
     Stoddard, president of Stoddard & Moore, needed help in finding 
a bag that would retain the freshness of his peanuts regardless 
of surrounding temperatures. His aunt, Lynn Blackwell, who is a 
Clemson graduate, told him to call Extension.
     In May of 1999, Stoddard phoned Extension packaging science
specialist Scott Whiteside for help. Whiteside introduced Stoddard 
to the retortable pouch, which is used by the military to keep 
food fresh for troops in the field.
     The pouch is made of polypropylene, covered by another layer 
of aluminum foil, followed by a layer of nylon. The outside layer 
is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The pouch will keep 
the peanuts safe to eat for up to six years, but the flavor 
will probably be lost after that length of time. 
     "Robert has a very good business plan and marketing has 
always been of the utmost importance to him," said Whiteside, 
who worked with Stoddard for almost a year to help get his 
business started.
     "Scott has been the biggest asset to my company that I've 
ever had," said Stoddard.  "He helped me in every facet of 
the business."
     Stoddard first began selling fresh boiled peanuts from 
his wooden peanut trailer on weekends, while working a full-time 
job at Specfab Services, a fabrication shop in Greenville. 
     A favorite spot was the parking lot of a Gray Court bait 
and tackle shop. He noticed that when he would pack up to leave 
at the end of the weekend, several men would come by his peanut 
trailer to buy all the boiled peanuts he had left. It turned out 
that the men owned convenience stores in the area. They would 
keep the peanuts in their coolers and sell them at their stores. 
The problem was the peanuts would last only five to six days. The 
rest would have to be thrown away.
     After doing this for about a year, Stoddard decided to get 
out of the business. He sold his trailer to a man who now sells 
peanuts at the Bi-Lo Center.
     Stoddard had also left Specfab Services and gone to work 
at Hart Graphics, a company that printed TV Guide magazines.  
He had worked at Hart Graphics for about two years when the 
company went out of business. 
     Stoddard had been talking with co-worker Jim Moore about 
his idea for a new boiled peanut business. Moore was getting 
ready to retire and wanted something to do. He had a little nest 
egg and decided to invest in the business with the 30-year-old
Stoddard.
     That's when "Lucky's Gourmet Goobers" was formed.
     "Jim brought the money, and I brought the ideas," said 
Stoddard.
     They worked eight months with Bowers Creative to come up 
with the colorful design they now have on their pouches.
     While the pouches were being designed, they found an 
8,000-foot warehouse on Donaldson Road to serve as their 
processing plant. The warehouse needed a lot of work. "We 
donned our tool belts and began renovating the building," said
Stoddard.     
     Stoddard & Moore LLC officially opened in September of 
1999.
     "We've been producing for six months and doing sales since 
late May," said Stoddard.  
     They currently have 10 employees, including Stoddard's 
brother, Craig, who is sales manager. Their lead man, Dale 
Carter, came with them from Hart Graphics.
     Right now their peanuts are in a couple of Winn-Dixie 
stores and some convenience stores and gas stations in 
Greenville. 
     "We targeted areas in Greenville that have different 
types of populations so we could track how our product was 
selling," said Stoddard.  
     Agreements are being finalized with H.T. Hackney 
Distribution Company and several other local distribution 
companies. They also have several large chain stores ready 
to take their product. 
     "By early August we'll be in about 75% of the convenience 
and grocery stores in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, 
Florida and Tennessee," said Stoddard. 
     A restaurant chain in Belgium, that is similar to the 
Texas RoadHouse restaurant chain, wants to sell their peanuts. 
A small distribution company in South Korea is interested. They 
also have representation in the Caribbean and are trying to get 
into the Japanese market.
     "Looks like we have commitments for up to a quarter of a 
million bags a month," said Stoddard.  
     They secured a loan from the Appalachian Council of 
Governments to help with finances to automate the facility.  
     "Lucky's Gourmet Goobers" can be purchased in the original 
flavor and Cajun flavor. They also bought out a company in Aiken 
that made "Beaufort Boilers," which  are sold in specialty stores.
     You may check out their website at: http://www.gourmetgoober.
com.
                                 END