Rudolph Foods

Rudolph Foods is a Lima, Ohio-based producer of snack food, in particular pork rinds and cracklins. The company has six facilities in the United States and three international ventures; it was founded in 1955, by John Rudolph.

Brands and Products

In addition to Rudolph Food's primary business of traditional pork rinds and cracklins, Rudolph Foods also manufactures non-pork rind snacks including Rudolph’s-brand Cinnamon Churros, Original OnYums and Chile Limon Chicharinas. Its family of brands include Rudolph’s, Southern Recipe, Pepe’s El Original, Gaslamp Popcorn and Lee’s Pig Skins.

Southern Recipe

Southern Recipe manufactures Southern-inspired snacks including pork rinds and cracklins. Southern Recipe makes pork rinds in various flavors including; Original, Hot & Spicy, Salt & Vinegar, Bar-B-Q and Sweet BBQ. Cracklin varieties include Traditional, Washpot, Strips, Curly, Dipper Cracklins and Red Pepper Dipper Cracklins.

Southern Recipe pork rinds, as part of the salty snack category, have seen a significant increase in sales and popularity as a result of listening to consumer feedback and offering new products that deliver desired flavor profiles.^[1] Pork rinds are considered to be a low carb diet snack – with zero carbohydrates and contain more protein than peanuts.

Pepe's El Original

Pepe's El Original is an authentic Mexican food and snacks brand in the U.S., is produced by [Rudolph Foods] Company, Inc. Pepe’s El Original is Rudolph Foods’ oldest brand and first began production in San Antonio, Texas. The Hispanic brand maintains its heritage and dedication to authentic Pepe’s snacks with a line of chicharrones, cracklins, gigante cracklins, tender curls and dippers. Additionally, the Hispanic snack line offers other, non-pork rind Hispanic-inspired snacks including sweet, cinnamon and sugar Churros and chile limon Duros. Pepe’s El Original pork rinds have seen an increase in sales and popularity as a result of consumer feedback and new products.^[2] The brand’s chicharrones product line address the industry’s growing Hispanic food trend, and address consumer interest in “healthy munchies” and low carb diet snacks – pork rinds contain zero carbohydrates and contain more protein than peanuts.

Lee's Pig Skins

Lee's Pig Skins offers pork rinds and cracklins prepared and packaged in the Deep South and is produced by Rudolph Foods Company, Inc. Lee’s Pig Skins is based in New Hebron, Mississippi, and was founded in 1978 and incorporated in 1988. The brand’s tagline is “The Tastiest Pork Rind & Cracklin Snacks Between Texas and Tennessee.” In addition to its Lee’s Pig Skins, Dabo’s ^[3] and Papa Tubs pork rinds, the snacks manufacturer also produces pork strips, curls, cracklins, dippers and washpot cracklins. Available flavors are Original, Seasoned, Hot, Hot Sweet and Salt & Vinegar. Hot & Spicy pork rinds address the industry’s growing Hispanic food trend, and overall address consumer interest in “healthy munchies” and low carb diet snacks – pork rinds contain zero carbohydrates and contain more protein than peanuts.^[4]

Gaslamp Popcorn

Gaslamp Popcorn started making kettle corn in the historic Gaslamp district of San Diego in 1998. Gaslamp Popcorn now makes four flavors - Kettle Corn, Cinnamon Caramel, Olive Oil and Sea Salt, and White Cheddar. Gaslamp Popcorn is 100% natural, Non-GMO, and gluten-free. Gaslamp Popcorn is grown and popped in California.

Community

All of Rudolph Foods brands are involved in event sponsorship, community initiatives and contest hosting in the USA. In 2010, the snack brand sponsored events including the Pork Rind Heritage Festival, where product samples and merchandise were handed out.^[5]

Southern Recipe maintains a strong online community of consumers, known as “the man cave”.^[6]^[7] This term stems from the brand’s typical consumer demographic – the traditional, Southern working man – after which their website is named. Southern Recipe is also involved in events, sponsorships and contests. In 2010, Southern Recipe hosted social media contest, Win The Ultimate Man Cave, as well as sponsored a local Ohio team’s participation in the World Championship Punkin Chunkin competition.^[8]

Pepe's El Original is highly involved in event sponsorship, such as Fiestas Patrias in Los Angeles, as well as hosting contests across the nation. In 2010, the Hispanic pork rind brand hosted its second contest – Mi Amor, Mi Chicharrones ^[9] in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.^[10]

In 2010, Lee's Pig Skins sponsored several events in the [Deep South] – like the Smokin’ Pig Festival in Lake City, FL and the Cracklin Festival in Porte Barre, LA.^[11]

Pork Rind Appreciation Day

In January 2011 Rudolph Foods declared "National Pork Rind Appreciation Day" to be observed each year on the same day as the NFL Super Bowl. Rudolph Foods agreed to make charitable donations in return for online support of the campaign. Pork Rind Appreciation Day was launched as an annual event when thousands of consumers supported the idea that pork rinds deserve their own day.^[12]^[13] Ohio Governor John Kasich issued a letter of support^[14] of Pork Rind Appreciation Day on February 6, 2012.

Each year, Rudolph Foods and its family of brands, refreshes the campaign with a new consumer promotion, as well as, a renewed commitment to their charitable partner. Since 2012, Pork Rind Appreciation Day has supported Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides medical and financial assistance to former NFL players in dire need.

References

External links

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