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FOOLS DOUBLE DISTRIBUTION
TAKE TWO STATE GRAND CHAMPION TITLES IN 2003
Long Beach, Calif. — By summer’s end, Southern California barbecue sauce creators and champion BBQ cookers the BBQ’n Fools doubled distribution of their award-winning sauce. The products — four sauce concoctions and two meat rubs — are now in the butcher block departments of 40 Albertson’s stores —more than doubling the 15 stores at the start of 2003.
Grant Ford, one of three “Founding Fools”, said the run-up to nearly 50 stores began with a cooking event at the grand opening of a remodeled Albertson’s in Long Beach, on 2nd Street and PCH. Grant brought his 15’ cast-iron smoker and made a favorable impression on a visiting district director — who promptly added nine stores to The Fools’ distribution. One of those stores, in Carson, has become the #1 seller of BBQ’n Fools products, with a La Habra Albertson’s as a very close second.
Grant then called Albertson’s District Director Sam White and expanded to the current total of 40 — servicing the stores, trekking his imposing black smoker out to store parking lots for weekend cookouts, and offering demonstrations and product sampling inside the stores.
“Albertson’s has been great,” Grant said. “As more stores become partners, more customers become lovers of our products. Californians love good barbecue and BBQ’n Fools product help to provide that.”
The Albertson’s relationship has led to other successes. A new Albertson’s in Fullerton (at Malvern and Gilbert) has sponsored Ford at three cooking competitions in California in May — donating all the meat. With that store’s support, Grant won the California State Grand Champion twice in a row, and 3rd place when two big players came to a state championship competition. Taking 3rd behind those two was an honor, Grant said, and he still took 1st place in chicken — again. Trophies get displayed at the Fullerton store for several weeks after the event.
Following this summer’s success, Grant Ford will travel to Kansas City, Mo. October 2-4, to battle in the 24th Annual American Royal Barbecue competition (www.americanroyalbbq.com/). He competes in the invitation event first — Grant was invited to compete nationally. The second event is the open. Both are sanctioned and operates under rules of the Kansas City Barbeque Society (www.kcbs.us), the largest international organization of barbecue enthusiasts. On October 25th, Grant will follow that up with the 15th Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue — another invitation-only event where just 50 teams are asked to participate — in Lynchburg, Tenn.
BBQ’n Fools products are in other Southern California locations — Steak-O-Rama in Belmont Shores, Bree’s Meats in Garden Grove, Papa Dan’s in Fullerton, and Backwoods BBQ (restaurant and retail) in Corona. Shoppers in Florida, Arkansas and Texas can also find the sauce in their cities.
BBQ’N Fools was founded January 1, 2001, though the team had competed for two years before that. BBQ’n Fools is co -owned by partners Tom Brohamer, Kurt Weidmann and Phil “Grant” Ford. The signature sauce began as personal and team recipes. It’s grown steadily from its backyard BBQ beginnings to its current status as a solid and popular niche item in a large regional grocery chain. The sauce has won more than 60 awards — including the 2003 Fiery Food Challenge, a 1st place Award of Excellence from the National Barbeque Association, 2nd place at the 2002 Scovie awards, and 2001 and 2002 winner at the American Royal Barbecue International Sauce contest. More awards, information, testimonials, and other materials may be found on the company website: www.bbqnfools.com.
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Contacts
BBQ’n Fools
American Royal Barbecue
6285 E. Spring St. #396
1701 American Royal Court
Long Beach, CA 90808-4000
Kansas City, Mo 64102
714 569-1310
816 221 9800
714 991-7553 (fax)
816 221 8189 (fax)
www.bbqnfools.com ;
www.americanroyalbbq.com/
Grant@BBQnFools.com
Awards (partial list)
General
Grand Champion
California Classic State Championship 2003
Grand Champion
Beachfront CA State Championship 2003
3rd Place
Shake, Rattle & Smoke CA State Championship 2002
Team of the Year
SCBBQA 2000
Grand Champion
CA State Championship 2000 (Jun)
Reserve Champion
Smokin Spring Warmup 2000
Reserve Champion
CA State Championship 1999 (Oct)
Chicken
1st Place Chicken
California Classic
1st Place Chicken
Beachfront BBQ Cook-off
3rd Place Chicken
Southern CA State Championship 2002
2nd Place Chicken
Go For The Gold CA State Championship 2002
Chicken of the Year
SCBBQA 2000
1st Place Chicken
Smokin Spring Warmup 2000
1st Place Chicken
CA State Championship Oct 1999
Ribs
4th Place Ribs
California Classic 2003
2nd Place Ribs
Beachfront BBQ 2003
1st Place Ribs
Southern CA State Championship 2002
Team of the Year
CBBQA 2002
4th Place Ribs
Go For The Gold CA State Championship 2002
3rd Place Ribs
Shake, Rattle & Smoke CA State Championship 2002
3rd Place Ribs
Beachfront Cook-off 2001
Team of the Year
SCBBQA 2000
2nd Place Ribs
Police & Fire Games 2000
1st Place Ribs
Smokin Spring Warmup 2000
3rd Place Ribs
CA State Championship 1999 Oct 1999
Testimonials
Here’s what others have said about BBQ’n Fools Signature barbecue products:
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“ … a line of barbecue sauces and spices that are simply incredible.” — Barbecue & Beverage Magazine, Sept/Oct 2002 Issue
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“Wow! … Best BBQ sauce I have ever had! … I love it …” — Jerry, Orange, Calif.
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“My compliments to you on an incredible product” — Merle, Madison, Wis.
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“Got your spicy BBQ sauce and used it on grilled chicken last night, DELICIOUS!!!” — John, Columbine, Colo.
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“Served pulled pork with your BBQ rub and sauce, it was the best I ever had …” — Myrna, Hemet, Calif.
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“It’s even better than my Mom’s sauce, which used to be the best in the world. It’s addictive!” — Marina, Anaheim, Calif.
This article courtesy of http://grillsnyou.com.
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