Room to grow: Henderson supports the growth of local food distribution and manufacturing companies

As a furloughed Eastern Airlines Pilot, Mike Williams relocated to Henderson, NC, in 1976. The same year, he purchased a faltering distribution company, rebranding it as MR Williams Distributors. At first, the company was focused on supplying country stores in the area but Williams sought to scale the company and compete with larger wholesalers. This required the company to expand inventory and increase warehouse space to support the demands of new clients. "Our company started with a 25,000-square-foot low-ceiling warehouse and now we have a 250,000-square-foot facility that is very modern. And we are making room for future expansions," said Williams. "We are one of the few family businesses who have expanded and eventually worked our way up to compete with the larger wholesalers," he continued.

In addition to increasing capacity, Williams has made innovative strides technologically. At a time when many transactions were recorded on paper, Williams realized the inefficiencies and purchased the company’s first computer in 1979, which would help them compete more effectively in the market. With a growing inventory and a passion for computer technology, the company designed software that would allow retailers to manage their inventory, something that no one had thought of at the time. Before MR Williams launched their software, existing products were designed for distributors and not the retail customers they serve. This software gave them a competitive advantage and another revenue stream, opting to license the software to non-competing distributors. Today, the company is one of the largest wholesalers in the country and continues to expand.

"We gradually got into the computer business and that fascinated me because it gave us so much more selling power and the ability to reach a wider geographical area. We had to find a way to differentiate ourselves and I decided to make a heavy investment into technology that would help retailers manage their inventory. No one else had thought of this and it helped our customers make more money." Since the software is proprietary to the company, it was something that competitors couldn’t buy off the shelf or develop overnight. This allowed the company to compete with the two largest distributors in the country when they relocated to Henderson.

After the company’s history of growth within Henderson, it has sought ways to give back to the local community. “We work hand in hand with Vance-Granville [Community College], it's a great asset to the area. We offer scholarships to deserving people in the community,” said Williams.

Williams is also active in local organizations that support the community. He was instrumental in bringing a YMCA facility to Henderson and before the facility, he helped create a group that established a 'non-facility' YMCA. Non-facility YMCAs are groups that serve the community through different events and activities under the YMCA banner but do not have an official YMCA building. He feels that Henderson has “good bones” and the most important thing the community can do is attract new people and businesses to the area. "We have gotten a slight surge due to the real estate market, and while people have moved to Henderson from Durham and Raleigh during the pandemic, we want to bring more people in from all over." Fortunately, local leaders have done a good job in supporting businesses like MR Williams, and have established a great balance between supporting existing businesses and attracting new ones into town. “We’re in a very good position to have explosive growth,” concluded Williams.

For Country Snacks Manufacturing, maker of Carolina Country Snack brand foods, innovation is also key to its success. "The company was started by my father, Dwight Frazier, as a distribution company in the early 1990s, selling different snacks and novelties to convenience stores," said Angela Jacobs, President at Country Snacks Manufacturing. In 2001, Frazier opened a manufacturing facility to produce and sell his own brand of pork rinds. "The distribution business was growing and one of the little niche items we sold was pork rinds. We sold other brands and sold a lot of them, so we decided to start branding our own snacks and selling them on our trucks," said Jacobs.

When Frazier retired a few years ago, the distribution arm of the company was sold to Wise Snacks. However, Country Snack Manufacturing continues to flourish in Henderson, cooking the Carolina Country Snack brand pork rinds in the company’s local facility. “That’s just another opportunity for growth. Obviously, Wise saw some potential in the company,” added Jacobs. Today, the product line includes a variety of pork rinds, pork skins, and popcorn ‘cracklins’, which have grown popular with customers looking for a low-carb, crunchy snack.

When asked why the company remains in the area, Jacobs said, "Henderson is the perfect location. If you look at the map, it's not very far from [roadways like] I-85, US 1, or US 64. Because you can get anywhere in the country, it makes it a great place for national and regional distribution."

While strategically wise to keep the company located in Henderson, the decision to stay put was about more than business sense. “Henderson is important, it's become our home. My husband and I moved here twelve years ago to work at the family business. We’re very invested in Henderson and Vance County and love to see it the best it can be,” said Jacobs. The company shows its investment in the community by sponsoring the Boys and Girls Club, charity golf tournaments, and working with the Chamber of Commerce to support initiatives to bring new business to the area.

In addition to location and community, Jacobs praised the training and educational opportunities in Vance County. "We have a great community college that has been very supportive of the business community with training. If you are looking to attract talent, this area offers a lot and attracts everyone from general employees to management as it is a very beautiful area," she said.

Both businesses are examples of how Henderson can help companies, especially those that deal in distribution, with its convenient location and small-town atmosphere. Carolina Country Snacks evolved and built its business to respond to demand and MR Williams Distributors changed the industry with ahead-of-its-time software. Both companies also prove how, in Henderson, community support and positive impact are part of doing business. As the world changes, it's clear that Henderson continues to be a great place for innovative minds, change makers and industry leaders.