Our Story
It all started with a bike crash—and a rind.
“After a life-threatening accident left (P)RiND co-founder Matteo Caloia with a fractured skull, shoulder, and foot, doctors urged him to load up on protein and calcium to aid his recovery. But instead of turning to powders or processed bars, he reached for a childhood favorite: the Parmesan rind. That firm, flavorful outer layer of cheese—nutrient-rich and often discarded—became his go-to. He loved its purity, its punch of flavor, and its natural nutrition. He just wished it had a crunch.
A year later, alongside his best friend and UChicago soccer teammate Kai Walsh, Matteo co-founded (P)RiND. The duo began by cooking in their dorm kitchen, experimenting late into the night and handing out their earliest batches to classmates in handwritten paper bags. What began as a scrappy campus project quickly evolved into a bigger mission.
Together, they reimagined the humble rind into something crave-worthy: oven-baked, protein-packed Parmesan Pops made from repurposed, 16-month-aged cheese. Each puff is naturally lactose-free, gluten-free, and bursting with flavor—with 15g of complete protein per serving and none of the junk.
(P)RiND is making fancy hard cheese fun, functional, and snackable—one crunchy bite at a time.
Our Product
Efficiency
- Portable: With resealable airtight packaging, bite-sized portions, and a shelf life of up to 12 months, (P)RiND is easy to carry, store, and eat on the go.
- Prepared for Variety: The product can be enjoyed as-is, on a charcuterie board, or tossed onto a soup/salad as a tastier, guilt-free crouton.
- Cost-effective: Unlike most other "healthy" snack options, which tend to be prohibitively expensive, (P)RiND is made affordable by using a production waste product.
- Leveraging a natural chemical reaction: Parmesan already has some of the highest protein content of any cheese, but the oxidizing that occurs over the 16-month aging process boosts the protein content an extra 15%. At (P)RiND, we have learned that there is immense power in looking to naturally occurring 'hacks' that remove the need for artificial ingredients.
- Sustainability: An estimated 28,000,000 pounds of parmesan rinds are discarded each year. The production of one wheel of parmesan is associated with approximately 5.71 kg of methane emissions. 10% of the contents of these wheels are thrown away. Food waste is already a major problem in the United States with 30-40% of food being thrown away. By helping educate the public perception around parmesan rinds as a nutrient-dense superfood, we combat two imminent issues at the same time.
Health
- High-Quality Protein Source: Contains approximately 33% protein, including all essential amino acids in a highly bioavailable form. Provides 14g of protein per ounce, which is 7g more than beef. Ideal for athletes and those who need an immediate infusion of proteins; parmesan is already used by many, including the Italian men's national team, to refuel after training.
- Naturally Lactose-Free: Our parmesan rinds are naturally lactose-free as during the first 48 hours of crafting our exquisite parmesan, nature works its magic. The rich, creamy milk undergoes a delicate transformation known as lactic fermentation, where naturally occurring lactic bacteria gently break down lactose into flavorful lactic acid. This age-old process enhances the cheese's signature depth, complexity, and irresistible savoriness—ensuring every bite is naturally lactose-free and utterly delicious.
- Healthy Lipid Profile: Parmesan rinds contain beneficial fatty acids such as butyric acid, CLA, trans-palmitoleic acid, and possibly phytanic acid. These fats help improve body composition by reducing body fat, preventing fat accumulation, and supporting metabolic health, all of which are directly associated with a lower incidence of diabetes.
- Digestibility: 100 grams of parmesan are digested on average in 45 minutes, unlike the 3 – 4 hours necessary for a similar portion of meat. This makes parmesan rinds ideal for athletes and individuals needing an immediate infusion of proteins.
- Vitamin-Rich: A serving of parmesan rinds provides a complete daily requirement of vitamin B12 and biotin, a third of vitamin A and B2 needs, while also contributing significant amounts of essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, and vitamin B6.
- Rich in Macrominerals and Selenium: Parmesan is packed with micro minerals like calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and zinc, which support bone health and help prevent osteoporosis. A typical serving of parmesan rinds also delivers 19.5% of the daily selenium requirement, which supports immune function, antioxidative protection, and normal thyroid function.
- Functional Food for Glucose Management: Consuming parmesan rinds can exert a hypoglycemic effect, improving insulin secretion and glucose tolerance in both healthy and diabetic individuals, making it a suitable snack for prediabetic or glucose-sensitive consumers.
- Rich in Calcium: Contains 425 mg of calcium per ounce, nearly 10 times more than milk, which is essential for bone health and prevention of osteoporosis.