Alabama has produced several beloved food and beverage brands, and we’re happy to note that some of these companies have expanded across the country. Right here at home or in far-flung places, these products make us drool, satisfy our cravings and inspire plenty of state pride.
Folks in Alabama are quick to name their favorites, from sweet tea to steak sauce to soppin’ syrup. Now, MarketBeat.com, a financial media company, aims to pinpoint the best-loved brands in the state, ranking the top five via a new survey of 3,015 Alabamians.
“Some products are stitched so tightly into their home state’s identity that they’re practically part of the local flag,” MarketBeat said via a news release. “But which Alabama-made goods inspire the most pride today?”
Perhaps it’s no surprise that Milo’s Famous Sweet Tea came out on top, lauded by MarketBeat as the state’s “most loved homegrown brand.” Four familiar names followed Milo’s in the survey results, although we suspect fans of these brands are likely to argue over the specific rankings.
Think of this list, then, as a subject for debate, an opportunity to think about your Alabama must-haves — and an acknowledgment that homegrown brands rule. Here’s the big five, with commentary and descriptions from MarketBeat.
“A cult-favorite Southern sweet tea brand, brewed since 1946 with just tea leaves, water, and sugar – no preservatives,” MarketBeat says. “It’s so tied to Alabama that locals stockpile it when traveling out of state.”
“Founded in 1923 and long tied to Alabama’s football culture, this iconic Southern chip brand is still made in Birmingham, even after becoming part of the Utz snack family,” MarketBeat says.
“A spicy-sweet pickle brand beloved across the South, born from a family recipe in small-town Alabama and still carrying that hometown flavor,” MarketBeat says.
“Hickory-smoked sausage that has a near-religious following in Alabama, often served at backyard barbecues and tailgates but hard to find beyond the Southeast,” MarketBeat says.
“Family-owned since 1935, known for pralines, candied pecans, and other nut-based treats that are almost a rite of passage for road-trippers along I-65,” MarketBeat says.
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