Garner Foods is CFIC’s 2025 Local Supplier of the Year!

At the 21st Annual CFIC Convention, CFIC President Gene Faller announced Garner Foods as the council’s 2025 Local Supplier of the Year. CFIC’s retail members nominate and select the outstanding supplier based upon excellence in innovation, customer service, and involvement with CFIC. Garner Foods has been a supporter of CFIC since 2017.

Gene Faller presented the award to Garner Foods’ Matt McCollum, President and Chief Executive Officer.

What trends are you seeing in the marketplace?

We are seeing strong trends toward spicier flavors, global influences, and a growing interest in “swicy” — the combination of sweet and spicy profiles. In response, we recently launched Sweet CHAbanero, a sriracha-habanero sauce that starts with a sweet note and finishes with the bold heat of both habanero and jalapeno peppers, offering a well-balanced flavor experience. Additionally, we introduced a Habanero Buffalo Sauce, which blends the heat and brightness of habanero peppers with the rich, buttery flavor of classic buffalo sauce.

 

Tell us about the company’s history and legacy and how that shaped how the company does business today.

At Garner Foods®, our story began in 1929 as a barbecue stand that happened to have a beloved BBQ sauce, the restaurant did last long but the sauce lived on.  Our founder, Sam Garner, along with 3 of his sons, started selling the BBQ sauce then created Texas Pete® Hot Sauce to accompany the BBQ at customer request for a spicier sauce. Over the decades, we’ve stayed true to those roots while growing into a trusted name in kitchens across America and beyond.

Our legacy of family ownership and hands-on leadership has shaped how we do business today. We prioritize quality over shortcuts, relationships over transactions, and innovation over complacency. We listen to our consumers, respect our partners, and invest in the communities we serve. Every decision we make honors the traditions that built Garner Foods while embracing the innovation needed to meet the tastes and trends of tomorrow.

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to delivering flavor with integrity — a promise that has defined us for nearly a century and will continue to guide us into the future.

 

Out of all Garner Foods’ products which ones do you find to be most popular in the Carolinas? How does that compare with national trends? 

In the Carolinas and much of the South/Southeast, our Original Texas Pete® Hot Sauce is the flagship product—it’s the one that was on everyone’s grandma’s table growing up. In the Northeast, Green Mountain Gringo® Salsa takes the lead. The brand originated in Vermont and has built strong affinity. Across the rest of the country, both CHA! by Texas Pete® Sriracha Sauce and our Original Texas Pete® Hot Sauce enjoy widespread popularity.

 

Criteria for the CFIC Carolinas Supplier of the Year include consistent and responsive customer service, and innovation. Does Garner Foods have core principles that are integrated into your corporate culture to address these?

Our company mission, vision, and values all touch on those principles—especially our vision, which is: Garner Foods® will be unrivaled at touching people’s lives with the most satisfying food products and service on the planet. This commitment drives every interaction we have with our customers, ensuring we respond quickly, communicate clearly, and deliver on our promises. It also fuels our focus on innovation, encouraging us to develop new products and processes that meet evolving consumer needs while maintaining the quality and dependability our customers expect.

 

Does Garner Foods have any charitable causes on which you focus or are there key communities you serve?

Yes. Garner Foods has a deep tradition of giving back to the communities we serve, a commitment that began with the first generation of the Garner family and continues today. In 2024, we announced a new foundation dedicated to furthering our long-standing philanthropic initiatives, with a focus on making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We actively support food programs, local and national food banks, and other local charities, including Habitat for Humanity. Our charitable efforts reflect our belief that food brings people together, and we are proud to support causes and communities that align with our values.

 

As a long-standing member and supporter of CFIC, what would you say to other suppliers that are not involved with CFIC to encourage them to join and participate?

As a long-standing member of CFIC, we can say with confidence that the relationships, resources, and advocacy this organization provides are invaluable. CFIC creates opportunities for suppliers and retailers to connect in meaningful ways, share ideas, and work together to strengthen our industry. The events and networking alone are worth the investment, but it’s the collective voice and shared commitment to our region that truly make the difference. Being involved means you’re not just supporting your own business—you’re contributing to the growth and success of the entire Carolina food industry. We’ve seen firsthand how participation benefits our team, our customers, and the communities we serve, and we would encourage any supplier to get involved and experience that impact for themselves.

 

What advice would you give to a young person interested in entering the retail food industry?

The retail food industry moves fast and offers endless opportunities to learn and grow. Be curious—learn every part of the business, from how products are made to how they reach the shelf. Ask questions, find mentors, and take on challenges that push you out of your comfort zone. Details matter here, and so does follow-through. Innovation is important, but so is delivering the same quality and consistency every time. And remember—at the end of the day, food is about people. Every product you work on becomes part of someone’s meal, so make it the best it can be.

 

Anything else you would like to add?

We’d like to thank CFIC for all they do—not just for Garner Foods, but for our entire community. The connections, advocacy, and support you provide make a real difference for businesses like ours and for the people we serve. We’re proud to be part of this organization and grateful for the positive impact you continue to have across the Carolinas.