The Legendary Foods story: from Quest to protein snacks

Before Legendary Foods made protein pastries, its founder helped build Quest Nutrition. Ron Penna and his wife Shannan had been looking for a protein bar they actually wanted to eat. Shannan worked on a recipe at home; Ron turned that idea into Quest. After Quest was sold in 2019, Ron and business partner Michael Veni started Legendary Foods. That link is part of the brand's own account, not a claim that Legendary products are Quest products under a new wrapper.

The short answer

• Legendary Foods was founded by Ron Penna and Michael Veni after Penna's time at Quest Nutrition.
• Its stated idea is to remake familiar snack foods as higher-protein options. The US range now goes beyond pastries.
• NZ Supps currently has selected pastry ten-packs and a cinnamon sweet roll eight-pack. Check live listings for other lines.

How Quest led to Legendary

Legendary's account of its beginnings starts with Shannan and Ron Penna looking for a better protein bar. Shannan experimented in the kitchen, and Ron later founded Quest Nutrition to take the recipe to market. Quest grew and was acquired by The Simply Good Foods Company in 2019. Ron then joined Michael Veni to found Legendary Foods.

The useful part of this history for a shopper is the change in format. Quest became known for bars. Legendary set out to make foods people recognise from the snack aisle, including iced pastries, sweet rolls and savoury chips. Protein is built into those products, but they are still packaged snacks. Their labels matter more than the founder story when you decide whether one fits your day.

What Legendary actually makes

The brand's US site currently lists protein pastries, donuts, sweet rolls, chips and pasta. That is the manufacturer's range, not an NZ Supps availability list. A product appearing on the US site does not mean it can be bought from our New Zealand store today.

Our Legendary Foods collection lists pastries, sweet rolls, donuts and Pop Chips. On 23 September 2026, selected pastry ten-packs and the cinnamon sweet roll eight-pack were available. Donuts and Pop Chips were out of stock. Check live listings before choosing a flavour.

Why the format matters more than the hype

Legendary's pitch is easy to understand: take a food that feels like a treat and give it a more protein-focused recipe. That is attractive when another bar or shaker sounds unappealing. It does not turn a pastry into the same food as eggs, yoghurt or a balanced meal. It gives you a packaged option for a particular moment, such as a snack between work and training or a sweet item you can keep in the pantry.

Check the individual product panel for protein, energy, fibre and ingredients. The brand changes recipes and sells several categories, so one number cannot stand in for the whole range. The protein source also matters if you are comparing a snack with a whey shake. Some Legendary pastry recipes use a blend that includes dairy proteins and collagen. Collagen has a different amino acid profile from whey. If your main aim is a complete protein serving after training, compare the label with your usual protein food or powder instead of choosing on the word “protein” alone.

The manufacturer says its pastries can be eaten from the wrapper or warmed briefly after removing the wrapper. That is a serving suggestion, not a reason to assume every flavour tastes the same. We have not taste-tested the current NZ range for this article.

Which Legendary product should you start with?

If you want a familiar sweet pastry, choose a flavour you already like from the available boxes. The cinnamon sweet roll is a different format. We have not ranked the flavours or taste-tested the current NZ range.

Want to compare this with other snack formats? Our protein snack guide covers the wider shelf.

Where NZ Supps fits

NZ Supps carries selected Legendary Foods products for New Zealand shoppers. The brand collection is the place to check current availability; the protein foods collection shows the wider carried catalogue, including products that may be out of stock. We would choose by format and label first, then by flavour. The founder story explains why these snacks exist, but it cannot tell you whether a particular box suits your diet or tastes.

FAQ

Who founded Legendary Foods? Legendary Foods says Ron Penna and Michael Veni founded the company after Penna's work at Quest Nutrition.

Is Legendary Foods the same company as Quest? No. The brands share part of a founder history, but Legendary Foods has its own product range and identity.

What is Legendary Foods known for? Protein pastries are a prominent part of the range. The US brand also lists sweet rolls, donuts, chips and pasta.

Can I buy every Legendary product in New Zealand? No. Our store lists selected products, and availability changes. The brand's US catalogue is broader than the NZ Supps stock shown in this snapshot.

Are Legendary pastries a replacement for protein powder? They are packaged snacks with protein. Compare the full nutrition panel and protein sources with the food or powder you would otherwise use.

Which Legendary Foods products are currently stocked at NZ Supps? On 23 September 2026, four pastry ten-packs and the cinnamon sweet roll eight-pack showed stock. Check the collection for the live position.