Candwich
A shelf-stable sandwich product packaged in a can.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Candwich is a shelf-stable sandwich product created and marketed by Mark Kirkland through Mark One Foods, LLC, also referred to as MK1 Foods. Its central proposition is a sandwich stored in a can, promoted with the positioning “the only sandwich in a can” and the slogan “Quick & Tasty, Ready to Eat.” The format combines a packaged bread roll with separate filling components and small accessories inside a can, allowing the product to be stored and consumed without conventional refrigeration or preparation equipment. Kirkland has said that the concept originated while he was drinking a canned soft drink with a cookie and began considering whether food could be sold in cans through vending machines. In 2003, he obtained a patent relating to placing food and non-food items in a can for vending-machine dispensing. The concept also drew on shelf-stable bread technology that had been developed for military use. Mark One Foods was formed in 2009 to commercialize the idea and produce Candwich products. The best-documented product was a peanut-butter-and-grape-jelly sandwich. A package contained a small hoagie-style roll, individually packaged peanut butter and jelly, a plastic knife, a hand wipe, and a piece of Laffy Taffy. The product was described as having an approximately one-year shelf life. Proposed extensions included a strawberry-jelly version and barbecue chicken, while other ideas mentioned in connection with the brand included a pepperoni pizza pocket, French toast, and cinnamon rolls. The availability of these proposed varieties was not established in the reference material. Candwich was presented not only as a novelty convenience food but also as a product for emergency preparedness, disaster relief, vending, travel, and situations in which ordinary food-service infrastructure is unavailable. In 2011, the grape peanut-butter-and-jelly version was reported as available online and through selected 7-Eleven stores in Salt Lake City, Utah. The brand also attracted broad popular attention after Stephen Colbert featured it on The Colbert Report on July 9, 2010. The company became associated with an investment-related legal controversy in 2010, although Candwich and Mark One Foods were not accused of wrongdoing in the cited account. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission sued money manager Travis L. Wright, who had raised approximately $145 million while telling investors that the funds were intended for real-estate investments. Wright reportedly invested about $1 million in Mark One Foods, but he was an outside investor rather than a member of the company. The episode increased public attention around the product while distinguishing the company from the alleged conduct at issue. After an earlier commercial phase, Candwich was offered for pre-order through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign beginning September 15, 2016. In 2021, the brand announced a relaunch and stated that Candwich products would be available through vending machines in the relevant local market. The business subsequently used the MK1 Foods name in its branding. Publicly available reference material does not establish the brand’s current geographic scale, manufacturing volume, ownership structure, or a complete current product range.
History
Candwich emerged from Mark Kirkland’s effort to create a food product that could be stored in a can and sold through vending machines. Kirkland has described the original inspiration as a casual observation involving a canned drink and a cookie. He subsequently considered whether a complete food item could be packaged in a similar format. In 2003, he received a patent relating to the placement of food and non-food items in a can for dispensing from a vending machine. The concept also relied on shelf-stable bread technology associated with military food development. Mark One Foods, LLC was formed in 2009 to commercialize the product. Candwich was promoted as a ready-to-eat sandwich in a can, emphasizing portability and storage life rather than conventional fresh-food presentation. The product’s marketing language described it as “the only sandwich in a can,” supported by the slogan “Quick & Tasty, Ready to Eat.” Its intended use cases included vending, travel, emergency preparation, disaster relief, and other circumstances where refrigeration or a kitchen might not be available. The principal documented flavor was Peanut Butter and Jelly - Grape. The package included a small hoagie roll, separate packets of peanut butter and grape jelly, a plastic knife, a hand wipe, and a piece of Laffy Taffy. The sandwich was described as having a one-year shelf life. Strawberry jelly and barbecue chicken versions were presented as planned offerings, while pepperoni pizza, French toast, and cinnamon-roll concepts were also discussed as possible future products. The available evidence does not confirm that all of these concepts reached sustained commercial production. By 2011, Candwich was reported as available online and at 7-Eleven locations in Salt Lake City, Utah. The product’s unusual format generated media attention, including a feature by Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report on July 9, 2010. Candwich also appeared in reporting about an investment controversy involving Travis L. Wright. The SEC sued Wright after alleging problems with the way he raised investment money. Wright had invested approximately $1 million in Mark One Foods, but he was not part of the company, and the cited account states that Mark One Foods was not charged with wrongdoing. The brand later pursued a crowdfunding route. On September 15, 2016, Candwich became available for pre-order through an Indiegogo campaign. In 2021, the company announced a relaunch centered on vending-machine availability and used the MK1 Foods name in connection with the renewed business. The public record summarized in the reference material provides limited information about subsequent distribution, corporate ownership, management, revenue, or the exact current product assortment. Candwich is therefore best understood as a specialized packaged-food brand whose identity rests on its unusual canned-sandwich format and vending-oriented convenience proposition.
- 2021
Brand relaunch
[1]Candwich announced a relaunch involving vending-machine sales and branding associated with MK1 Foods.
- 2016
Indiegogo pre-order campaign
[1]Candwich began offering pre-orders through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign on September 15.
- 2011
Reported retail availability
[1]The grape peanut-butter-and-jelly variety was reported as available online and through 7-Eleven stores in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- 2010
SEC lawsuit involving an outside investor
[1]The SEC sued Travis L. Wright in an investment-related case; Wright had invested in Mark One Foods, while the company itself was not charged with wrongdoing.
- 2010
Television appearance on The Colbert Report
[1]Stephen Colbert featured Candwich on The Colbert Report on July 9, increasing public awareness of the product.
- 2009
Mark One Foods is formed
[1]Mark One Foods, LLC was established to market and produce Candwich.
- 2003
Patent obtained for canned vending-machine food concept
[1]Mark Kirkland received a patent concerning the placement of food and non-food items in a can for vending-machine dispensing.
Products and positioning
Novelty convenience food designed for portability, long shelf life, vending-machine distribution, and emergency or disaster-preparedness use.
Canned sandwich
Peanut Butter and Jelly - Grape
The best-documented Candwich product combines a small hoagie-style roll with separate packets of peanut butter and grape jelly inside a can. The package was also described as containing a plastic knife, a hand wipe, and a piece of Laffy Taffy. It was promoted as a shelf-stable, ready-to-eat food with an approximately one-year shelf life, suitable for vending, travel, emergency supplies, and situations without ordinary food-service facilities.
Canned sandwich
Peanut Butter and Jelly - Strawberry
A strawberry-jelly variation was identified as a planned Candwich offering in the product information available in 2011. The reference material does not establish whether it achieved sustained commercial availability or remained a proposed extension.
Canned sandwich
Barbecue Chicken
Barbecue Chicken was cited as a planned savory Candwich variety. It represented an attempt to extend the brand beyond peanut butter and jelly, but the available source does not confirm a commercial launch or long-term distribution.
Controversies
2010
Investment case involving Travis L. Wright
The SEC sued money manager Travis L. Wright after he raised approximately $145 million while representing that the funds were for real-estate investments. Wright invested about $1 million in Mark One Foods. He was an outside investor, and the cited account states that Mark One Foods was not charged with wrongdoing.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Indiegogo Candwich pre-order campaign
United States
Candwich used an Indiegogo campaign beginning September 15, 2016, to solicit pre-orders and support renewed commercialization of the canned sandwich.
Outcome. The available reference material confirms the pre-order campaign but does not provide campaign totals, fulfillment results, or sales outcomes.
Brand decisions
2021
Relaunch through vending-machine distributionStrategyBackground
Candwich’s original proposition was closely tied to vending and shelf-stable convenience, while earlier retail and crowdfunding activity had not established broad distribution.
Action taken
The brand announced a relaunch, stated that Candwich would be available from vending machines in the relevant locality, and used the MK1 Foods name in its renewed branding.
Aftermath
The available sources do not document the scale, duration, or commercial performance of the relaunch.
Recent events
- 2021
Candwich announces a relaunch through vending machines[1]
Product launch
Candwich announced a relaunch and stated that the product would be available for purchase from vending machines in the relevant local market. The brand also adopted the MK1 Foods identity in its relaunch communications.
- 2016
Candwich opens pre-orders through Indiegogo[1]
Product launch
Candwich began a crowdfunding pre-order campaign on Indiegogo on September 15, 2016.
- 2010
Candwich receives national television exposure on The Colbert Report[1]
Other
Stephen Colbert featured Candwich on The Colbert Report, bringing national popular-culture attention to the canned sandwich concept.
Sources2 sources
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