Overview:
Business accelerator offers education, opportunity
Terry Payton and EJ Billups crafted Phathead BBQ Sauce in a home kitchen with a goal of “providing the best possible BBQ sauce.”
They then began selling the sauce from their homes, front yards and other community venues.
“Through hard work and determination, we’ve grown our product line to include six delicious flavors. Phathead BBQ Sauce “is now in backyards and grocery stores all over the Madison County Area,” according to a statement by the entrepreneurs.
The owners said wanting to make their family proud is what pushes them to the limits, but their love for cooking and sharing a delicious BBQ with friends is what drives them to deliver the best sauce any family can find.
“If you try it, you will buy it,” they say.
Phathead, which calls Bethalto, Illinois home, could soon possibly be on the shelves of Schnucks Markets throughout the region because it is a member of the inaugural group of 10 business in Schnucks Springboard – a business a business accelerator designed to provide education, resources and access to diverse-owned businesses.
The companies will receive business development classes at Schnucks’ St. Louis headquarters, networking opportunities, $5,000 of equity-free funding and, if they meet food safety, insurance and certification requirement, an in-store product trial at select Schnucks stores in 2025.
Joining Phathead BBQ Sauce are Bella’s Pet Products; D.R.E.A.M. Pet Food; Hugo Coffee Roasters; Mickey’s Popcorn; MOTASTE; Pop Pop Hurray; Sandwich Goat Seasonings; Show Me the World; and YÜJ Granola.
Tony Davis, Pop Pop Hurray owner, said in a December 2021 St. Louis American article he opened his first brick-and-mortar store in the heart of Ferguson during the pandemic.
“We knew we wanted to put our first store in North County, in the community. Because it’s a family-friendly establishment, and it’s not many of those around.”
Davis visiting popcorn shops throughout the nation to sample their wares and noticed “most lacked flavor options and offered very little in the form of customer experience.”
He decided to combine gourmet popcorn with the topping customization options of an ice cream shop. His success can be measured in square feet – he opened a second location in St. Charles.
Diverse-owned is defined as at least 51% owned, operated and managed by a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident that is a member of one or more of the following groups: Woman, Disabled, Black American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native American, Hispanic American, LGBT and/or U.S. Military Veteran.
The 10 companies were selected in partnership with Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council based on their business stability, incremental sales opportunity, strategic vision and corporate responsibility.
“Using our resources and relationships, we honor our responsibility to strive for equity for not only our teammates and customers but also for our many diverse-owned suppliers,” said Adrian Moore, Schnucks senior director of merchandising enablement & supplier diversity.
“We look forward to working with the proprietors of these companies and to providing the inside knowledge and tools that can help them take their products and sales to the next level.”
Demetrius Glover, Mid-States MSDC president and CEO, said when the program was announced April, “Minority-owned entities within the Mid-States MSDC network support over 26,000 jobs throughout eastern Missouri.’
“Our partnership with Schnucks will not only create economic opportunities but also build a legacy of success that extends beyond business transactions.”
In 2020, Schnucks launched a diversity, equity and inclusion plan, Unity Is Power, which launched efforts to increase focused, community support for organizations that promote racial equity, including the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Last year, the Urban League honored Schnucks with the Civic Leadership Award for these efforts. Schnucks was also recently named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2024 by Newsweek.
“Our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are more than just words on paper. It’s how we celebrate our differences and learn from each other’s experiences and how we serve the numerous communities in which we operate,” said Schnucks Senior Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Emma Lumpkins after receiving the Newsweek award
“It’s also nourishing people’s lives by providing a welcoming work environment to our nearly 12,000 teammates whose efforts make it possible for our customers to feed their families.”