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Mission Statement

We provide America loving patriots with quality seasonings for meals that bring families and friends together.

Our Story

Frag Out Flavor was founded in 2017 by Patrick Flynn, a combat veteran who served as a 12B (Combat Engineer) in the Army.

Patrick Flynn in Afghanistan 2010-2011

There’s a classical difference between a fairy tale and a war story… “Once upon a time” vs “NO SH** THERE I WAS!

Our story starts somewhere in the middle…

My name is Patrick. From early childhood, I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. From selling painted rocks on the corner of my neighborhood street when I was only 6 years old, to operating a successful landscaping company through high school, I’ve always dreamed of being a business owner.

Patrick with a young child in Afghanistan

Fast forward only a couple years later where I enlisted as a 12B (Combat Engineer) in the Army. I served a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010-2011 conducting both mounted and dismounted route clearance patrols. I left behind my newly wed high school sweetheart, and newborn son who had come home only days earlier after an initial 2 month stay in the hospital (born at 2lbs).

Patrick with the children of Afghanistan

What’s route clearance? Not everyone knows. We made things go “boom”. Some days, haji got the best of us and we were the things that went boom… like my gun truck in the Kandahar/Helmand province on July 5th 2010 when we hit a large, pressure plate initiated IED. But that’s in the past. All things considered, I’m blessed to be here and things could have been a lot worse.

Patrick on patrol in Afghanistan

 

FUELED AMBITION

As it turns out, cheating death during route clearance operations was a great way to gain perspective on life and realize the importance of what most people take for granted day-to-day. Family, faith, education, and living the American dream, among many other things we've been given.

When I got home from deployment I worked hard to earn a Master's degree in computer science. But my new-found perspective from deployment also fueled my ambition to take advantage of the opportunity to be a business owner.

 

WHY SPICES?

Let’s face it, in the pursuit of becoming a business owner I didn’t want to start a veteran oriented t-shirt company... The focus was on finding a way to bring something good to the table.

And that’s when it clicked…what if I could literally bring “something good to the table”?

I’ve always been passionate about great food and BBQ, especially after being previously accustomed to eating MREs, jerky, and Pop-Tarts for weeks at a time. More importantly, it was a great way to focus on how people can take advantage of one of the most precious things we have in our lives…our loved ones.

For those who take this for granted, stop. Because trust me, you don’t always realize what you have until it’s taken from you. Like the thoughts I’d have of my precious wife and newborn son back home, while wondering if I’d make it out of some sketchy situation alive.

But back to food…

Think about it. In American culture, so much of what we do on a social level revolves around food. Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas ham, holiday weekend BBQs, along with all the other family and friend get-togethers throughout the year.

How awesome would it be to play a role in this unity of friends, family, and making great memories? People gravitate towards good food.

And here’s the thing…great tasting food is accomplished using quality spices. You don’t need to be a chef to understand this.

 

SO, WAIT… ANOTHER RUB COMPANY?

Far from it. I had specific flavor profiles I was after. A vision of specific flavors in my head. And after trying literally hundreds of different spice blends and rubs from vendors across the country, I realized they simply did not exist.

Good. There’s opportunity.

Sure, some blends were similar. Some came close. Many were not bad, but they could be better. And frankly, a lot of the BBQ rubs were not quality. Often times it was a shame to expose such fine food to a low-quality seasoning.

 

WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY

Countless hours of R&D, cooking, and BBQ. Months of trial, error, blood, sweat, and tears…literally – raw beef bleeds, and have you ever mixed reaper or ghost pepper? Trust me, you'll sweat from the heat and shed plenty of tears when it inevitably gets in your eyes.

But results soon emerged. Born was a lineup of spice blends & BBQ rubs, nothing short of superb quality and craftsmanship.

But it doesn’t stop there…

 

A NEED TO REINTEGRATE

After leaving military service, I struggled once I quickly realized I was no longer a part of it. I couldn’t find and attach to the same brotherhood I once knew and was a part of.

Sure, PTSD sucks…but do you want to know another struggle? Waking up and realizing you’ll never be as cool as you once were. Questioning whether or not you're fulfilling a purpose as great as you previously had been.

It was a serious challenge. And I knew I was not alone. Many of us leave military service and feel the same way.

So, the question soon became “how can I integrate back into that life even though I’m out now?

My focus was zeroed in on engaging with other like-minded individuals who share a passion for our past military life, great food, and BBQ. And that’s how the brand came about. A brand centered around a lifestyle I was once a part of.

My way to integrate those of us with these passions… a new yet critical outlet.

This is why Frag Out Flavor embraces a culture of individuals who appreciate hard work, sacrifice, our patriotic freedoms, and the American way of life. A culture of customers not ashamed of being American, and for fighting to maintain our rights. A culture where responsible pro 2A, patriots, military, veterans, and first-responders can rally around BBQ and good cooking.

Myself and all the others involved (to include our customers) are living this reintegration through Frag Out Flavor. And for that, I am grateful.

This is my story... this is our story. And we'd love to have you become part of it.

 

A PROMOTION PATH TO GIVING BACK

One of Frag Out Flavor’s top business objectives is to grow in such a way that we become capable of making a more positive impact on the veteran community. As we continue to grow and become more profitable, we’re able to make a bigger difference with those we choose to support and donate to. Our customers make this growth possible, and we thank each and every one of them for helping us in this endeavor.

Guiding Principles

Serve Excellence

Provide our customers with excellent taste, quality, support, and culture.

Empower Our People

Foster a culture of hard work, appreciation, leadership, and individual growth.

Reward Loyalty

Acknowledge and reward those who have remained loyal to us - employees and fanatics alike.