The Texas Pete® story began in 1929, when the Garner family of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was searching for a way to support their family. Son Thad used his college savings to purchase a local barbecue restaurant, where the family acquired a signature barbecue sauce recipe. Although the restaurant didn’t survive, the sauce did. Made on the family kitchen stove and delivered by hand to local restaurants, grocery stores, and neighbors, it quickly earned a loyal following. As demand grew, Garner family members pitched in to help produce and sell the sauce.
As customers began asking for something with more heat, the family created a bold new pepper sauce that would become Texas Pete® Hot Sauce. When it came time to name the product, a marketer suggested “Mexican Joe,” but family patriarch Sam Garner insisted on an American name. “Texas” reflected the region’s reputation for bold, spicy flavors, while “Pete” honored Harold Garner’s childhood nickname. The result was a brand that has become a staple in restaurants and homes across the country.
Today, Garner Foods® remains family owned, with multiple generations carrying forward the same entrepreneurial spirit that launched the business nearly a century ago. While the company has expanded its portfolio and serves operators nationwide, its commitment to quality, flavor, and supporting restaurants remains rooted in the family values that started it all.
Today, Texas Pete® is served by some of the top restaurant chains in America, but the company knows that its business is rooted in neighborhood restaurants owned and operated by families.
Matt McCollum, CEO and member of the fourth generation of the Garner family, continues to champion family-owned restaurants as Garner Foods® heads towards its centennial. “According to the National Restaurant Association, nine out of 10 restaurants in America are independent and single-unit operations with less than 50 employees. They are the backbone of the foodservice industry. Like us at Garner Foods®, they show up daily with a dedication to successfully serving their customers great food that brings them back for more over the decades.”
That dedication to keeping customers coming back is what drives Garner Foods’ approach to flavor. The company offers a variety of traditional and global flavors for menu versatility, giving operators the formats they need to build dishes diners remember and return for. Today, Garner Foods continues to champion the success of independent operators by offering a variety of support programs designed to help businesses thrive.
These initiatives are focused on helping independent restaurant owners effectively manage their food costs while driving long-term menu success. By providing practical tools and resources, Garner Foods ensures that its partners have the support they need to remain profitable and relevant in a competitive industry.
According to the Family Business Association, only three percent of family-owned businesses make it to the fourth generation. Today, Garner Foods’ new warehouse is humming with shipments to operators nationwide, while teenage Garners spend their summer learning the family business, carrying the same hands-on tradition forward into a fifth generation.
To learn more about Texas Pete® and its programs to support independent operators, visit: TexasPeteFoodservice.com.
1 NPD/Circana, April 2026
