Featured image: Conecuh Sausage
When most people think of the South, they picture pecan pies, porch swings, and, of course, our world-famous Southern hospitality. And while we may corner the market on sweet tea, the South has long been home to another point of pride: innovation. From small-town kitchens to family-run factories, some of America’s most beloved brands were born below the Mason-Dixon line. A few you might expect. Others? Well, bless your heart — you’d never guess.
Here are six companies with deeper Southern roots than a magnolia tree.
Books-A-Million (Florence, Alabama)
I’ve been shopping at Books-A-Million for the better part of 20 years, and it never dawned on me that BAM is a Southern company — until today. (I tend to get twitterpated when I walk through the doors – you know, so many books, so little time and all that). Founded in 1917 as a street corner newsstand in Florence, Alabama, the bookseller has outlived some of its biggest competitors. Still standing over a century later, BAM has become the second-largest book retailer in the nation, operating over 260 stores in 32 states and the District of Columbia.
Looking for your next read? Here are our current favorites.
Dippin’ Dots (Paducah, Kentucky)
If you ever visited a mall in the ’90s, then you might be familiar with this one. In 1988, microbiologist Curt Jones of Paducah, Kentucky, combined his background in cryogenics and love of ice cream in what may be the best science experiment in history. The result was quirky pellets of ice cream we now know as Dippin’ Dots, also known as the “Ice Cream of the Future.”
Dippin’ Dots reached peak popularity in the ’90s when they could be found in every mall across America, not to mention e-commerce, drug, and convenience stores, fairs, festivals, theme parks, and stadiums. Today, Dippin’ Dots is sold in 100 locations coast-to-coast and in 8 countries across the globe — who says innovation can’t come from a Kentucky dairy tank?
Lodge Cast Iron (South Pittsburg, Tennessee)
If you’ve ever seared a steak or baked cornbread in a heavy black skillet, there’s a good chance it was made by Lodge. Founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Lodge Cast Iron has become a household name and probably the leader in cast iron cookware.
During their long history, Lodge has endured the Great Depression, factory fires, and changing kitchen trends — outlasting its competitors along the way.
Today, Lodge remains family-owned, and its skillets, Dutch ovens, and griddles are still poured, seasoned, and packed in the same Tennessee town where it all began. And while the brand has every right to take an “if it ain’t broke” approach, it continues to evolve, introducing enamelware and modern accessories for home and professional chefs alike.
Conecuh Sausage (Evergreen, Alabama)
Every Alabamian knows you can’t attend a tailgate, breakfast, or backyard cookout in Alabama without someone firing up some Conecuh Sausage. Founded in 1947 in the tiny town of Evergreen, Alabama, by the Sessions family, Conecuh Sausage has a hickory-smoked cult following across the Southeast. And if you ever find yourself driving through Evergreen, you can make a pit stop at the Conecuh store for hot sausages off the roller or some Conecuh swag.
Chick-fil-A (Hapeville, Georgia)
Ok, we’re cheating a little on this one because Chick-fil-A doesn’t really need an introduction.
Chick-fil-A is famously Southern—but most people may not realize how small it started. In 1946, S. Truett Cathy opened a small diner called The Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, serving burgers, coffee, and fried chicken sandwiches long before fast food was trendy. The fried chicken empire was born when Cathy perfected a pressure-fried chicken sandwich that could cook as quickly as a hamburger.
Today, Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries, Polynesian sauce, and Sunday closings are cultural hallmarks, while its faith, hospitality, and family-first values remain rooted in its humble Georgia beginnings.
Little Debbie (Collegedale, Tennessee)
Founded by O.D. and Ruth McKee in Collegedale, Tennessee, during the Great Depression. Little Debbie’s famous oatmeal cream pies (sold for $.05 each) were the first treats in the brand’s long and delicious history. In 1960, Little Debbie pioneered the “family pack,” a family-sized carton of cellophane-wrapped cakes (for $.49). It was also in 1960 that the brand first introduced the face on the packaging we all know — Little Debbie was a real person, y’all, McKee’s granddaughter, Debbie. Today, the company is still family-owned.
And rumor has it that one famous Southerner is gaga over Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Creme Pies. Yes, former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban starts his day (every day) with a cup of coffee and not one, but two Oatmeal Creme Pies.
Whether it’s a skillet passed down for generations, a sausage sizzling on Sunday morning, or a cryogenic dessert, the South’s influence runs deep and stretches far beyond its borders. The next time you tear into a Nutty Buddy or bite into a Chick-fil-A sandwich, remember—you might just be holding a little piece of Southern history.
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