TruCourse Foods didn’t emerge overnight. The company was built through decades of craftsmanship, family pride, and relentless commitment to quality — one facility, one team, and one snack at a time.
"We're not satisfied until we know we're producing the best product." — Eugene "Mac" McCleary, Axium Foods FOunder
The Story Behind the Platform
CK SNacks
Grand Rapids, MI | Est. 1964 (The Foundation)
Over 60 years ago on the west side of Grand Rapids, Michigan, two founders set out to create a crunchy, cheesy snack they could share with their community. Word spread quickly and soon demand outgrew the kitchen. Cheeze Kurls was born.
For six decades, CK Snacks built its reputation as a trusted manufacturer of popcorn and extruded snacks — earning SQF Level 2 certification and deep capabilities in Organic, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, and Kosher production. When CK Snacks began acquiring complementary businesses, it became the foundation of what would become TruCourse Foods.
Axium Foods
South Beloit, IL | Est. 1960 (Acquisition #1, Fall 2024)
Axium Foods was founded in 1960 by Eugene “Mac” McCleary — a snack food pioneer who helped develop continuous production of corn-based snacks. Operating for over 60 years from its South Beloit, Illinois facility, Axium became a respected name in tortilla chips, corn chips, extruded snacks, and pellet manufacturing.
In the fall of 2024, CK Snacks acquired Axium Foods, bringing 240,000+ square feet of corn snack manufacturing capacity into the growing platform.
Keystone Food Products
Easton, PA | Est. 1946 (Acquisition #2, Spring 2026)
Established in 1946 by the Corriere family in Easton, Pennsylvania, Keystone Food Products brings over 75 years of snack manufacturing heritage to the TruCourse platform. Known for tortilla chips, organic and natural snack lines, extruded snacks, veggie sticks, and snack mixes, Keystone adds East Coast reach, premium positioning, and added production redundancy to the combined business.
Key Milestones
1946
1960
1964
2000
2020
Summer 2024
Fall 2024
Spring 2026
Fall 2026
Corriere family founds Keystone Food Products in Easton, PA
Eugene “Mac” McCleary founds McCleary Industries (later Axium Foods) in South Beloit, IL
Bob Franzak and Ed DeDinas found Cheeze Kurls in Grand Rapids, MI — CK Snacks is born
Axium Foods launches Pajeda’s, its first branded snack line
Axium celebrates 60 years; Keystone marks 75 years of continuous operation
Nexus Capital Management invests in the growing platform
CK Snacks acquires Axium Foods, expanding corn snack capabilities to South Beloit, IL
CK Snacks acquires Keystone Food Products, adding East Coast manufacturing in Easton, PA
TruCourse Foods is officially launched as the unified brand