When talking about Tennessee, most people instantly think about Elvis or the famous Nashville scene of the 1950s and 1960s. Nashville is “Music City USA” after all. However, Tennessee has a lot more to offer than Nashville and music isn’t the state’s only export.
The state is responsible for 3.5% of all US exports and last year, the state shipped more than $31 billion worth of goods around the world. Food and beverage are some of its biggest exports.
As Kyle Holmberg of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture explains, the state has quite a diverse range of exports, including vegetables, oils, beverages, and chocolate. As a matter of fact, some of the biggest brands in the United States are based in Tennessee.
Today, we’re going to look at some of the biggest food and beverage companies in Tennessee.
1. The Christie Cookie Company
The Christie Cookie Company is one of the most beloved brands in the state of Tennessee. Founded almost 35 years ago, the company has made cinnamon, bourbon, and chocolate chip cookies for their loyal customers in Nashville. They produce more than 100 million cookies yearly. Last year, they were bought by Rich Products, a 75-year-old company, also based in Tennessee. On average, it makes $4 billion every year. In 2020, Rich Products has four factories in Tennessee and employs over 1,000 people in the state.
2. Sun Drop Bottling
This company was found way back in 1947 in Pulaski, Tennessee under the name Nesbitt Spur Bottling Company. In 1951, the company introduced its iconic SunDrop citrus-flavored soda to the world. A more than a decade later, the company officially changed its name to SunDrop. After its most famous product. SunDrop soda was so popular, that it was responsible for 75% of the company’s sales. In 2016, the company was bought by the Piedmont Cheerwine Bottling Company.
3. MoonPie
Chattanooga Bakery, the family business responsible for the Moon Pie was been founded way back in 1902. The tasty southern snack itself is more than a century old at this point. As the story goes, it all began in 1917, when a miner asked Earl Mitchel, a traveling salesman to bring him a treat “as big as the moon.” Earl went back to the bakery, which responded with a treat we all know and love to this day. The bakery is still operating. Today, it employs around 150 people and is worth an estimated $39 million.
4. Goo Goo Cluster
While the phrase “Goo Goo” is usually reserved for toddlers, in Nashville the phrase is familiar to everyone who has a sweet tooth. That’s because Goo Goo Cluster, a Nashville candy-making company has been a staple of the city for more than 100 years at this point. Founded by Howell Campbell, Sr. and Porter Moore in 1912, the company is responsible for America’s first combination candy bar. The original recipe featured a combination of different ingredients, including caramel, nougat, peanuts, and chocolate. Today, the Goo Goo Cluster offers candy bars, milkshakes, and sodas.
5. Hatcher Family Dairy
The Hatcher family has been working small-time dairy farmers for a long, long time. For around 190 years, to be exact. The last five generations of the Hatcher family have worked on their farm in College Grove, producing dairy products and keeping the tradition alive and well. Since 2007, they’ve been bottling their milk. While they may not have a lot of workers on the farm, their products sell in more than 80 shops and restaurants around the state.
6. Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint
West Tennessee has always had a tradition of the whole hog BBQ. The tradition is alive and well to this day, largely thanks to one man – Pat Martin. Since opening up his first BBQ in Nolensville, back in 2006, Pat quickly amassed a large customer base. A decade later, Pat opened up a 13,000-square-foot outpost in downtown Nashville. The franchise now has 8 locations that offer Pat’s well-known spicy chicken wings, ribs, and beef briskets. Today, Martian’s Bar-B-Que is regarded as one of the best BBQ restaurants in all of the US.
7. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Moving on from a relatively new franchise to a half-a-century-old one. The first Cracker Barrel opened up shop in 1969. The man responsible for the first restaurant was Dan Evins, who was looking for ways to expand his family gasoline business. What many people don’t know is that Cracker Barrel sold gas back in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Nowadays, they’re mainly focused on serving their 230 million yearly guests with eggs, bacon, and pancakes.
8. Bush’s Baked Beans
The story of Bush’s Baked Beans starts in the 19th century when an East Tennessee farmer, AJ Bush, founded a general store. Years later, he opened a tomato cannery, developing a recipe for his famous baked beans along the way. Now, the company is responsible for about 80% of baked beans sales in the United States and makes $400 million a year. This January, the company officially entered the Guinness Book of World Records by creating a “7-layer dip” with staggering 70 layers. It weighed more than 1,000 pounds, which nearly doubled the previous record of 540 pounds.
9. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
We’ve saved the best for last. Jack Daniel’s is the biggest brand that ever came out of Tennessee. Valued at over $5.6 billion, it’s the 84th-most valuable brand and in the world and the number one ranked global spirit brand. And the company’s showing no signs of slowing down. They’re also doing their best to help their community go through the crisis we’re experiencing at the moment.
What’s Your Favorite Tennessee-Based Brand?
As you can see from the examples above, Tennessee has a lot to offer. All of these companies should not only be applauded for their hard work and perseverance but also supported. Although they work as exports, they are mainly there to keep the people of Tennessee feeling content during these hard times.
We hope you found our article enjoyable and informative. What are some of your favorite Tennessee-based brands? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below.
