Brenda and Ken Allen (Photo: Subitted)
BY: Micca Terrell Owners of Kenny Bob’s Foods held a grand opening on Saturday, June 25, 2022, to celebrate the family-owned food company’s new home on Industrial Drive in Pleasant View. Owners Ken and Brenda Allen were on hand for the celebration, along with their employees, family, city and county leaders, and local citizens. Attendees sampled the company’s famous barbecue sauces, as well as other products made at the facility. In an interview with The Post, Ken Allen explained the company recently moved from a 1,000 square foot space in Springfield, Tenn., to a much larger 4,500 square foot facility in Pleasant View. Allen said the larger space will allow production capabilities to increase from about 1,200 jars a day to about 8,000 jars a day. Demand for the products made by Kenny Bob’s Foods has grown since the company began in Robertson County in 2015. Allen said they are one of only three smaller manufacturing and co-packing facilities in Tennessee, which allows them to produce not only their famous Kenny Bob’s sauces in hot and mild versions, but also sauces, relishes, chow-chow, jams, jellies, fruit tea, and more for other small business owners. Their clients include small businesses from all around the nation, as far away as Nevada and Pennsylvania and as close as White House, Tenn. He explained the food industry has continued to grow even during Covid-19 and despite economic issues with inflation and supply chains. The decision to move from Robertson County to Cheatham County was based on needing more space and not having enough time to build something brand new, Allen said. “We had moved into our facility in Springfield in January 2021 and by August had outgrown it,” he said.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Kenny Bob’s Foods in Pleasant View (Photo: Submitted)
While driving back from a business trip to Dickson County in March of this year, Allen said he realized they had not checked out Cheatham. “We came back the next day and in about two hours we found the building,” he said. With a new, larger space, Allen said they need some more hands to help manufacture and package products. They are currently seeking four full-time and four part-time employees to work at the facility on Industrial Drive. He said on-the-job training is provided, and food service experience is not necessarily needed, but they do “need someone who is interested in working.” People who would like to apply need to contact Allen via email at info@kennybobs.com or call 615-247-8511. Kenny Bob’s Foods is also constantly looking for people who want to invest in the business, he said. “We want folks who want to see local businesses grow,” Allen explained. For more information on the company, visit their website at www.kennybobs.com. You can purchase products on the site, as well as at H.G. Hills in Pleasant View and on Amazon.
