Our Story
Bringing our sauce back to market was supported and helped by our founders closest friend Barney, known to family and friends as “B”. He was the friend who turned into family, and later on business partner.
After reminiscing on life together our founder turned to B and said "Let's get the band back together, get the original recipe back, add two more flavors, and become a brand”.
Here began the journey to find a new manufacturer, as our old partner had ceased production in late 2023. Our founder and B thought “how hard can it be to get another manufacturer?” yet soon found that raw ingredients in various parts of the country affected the signature taste.
All of 2024 was spent looking for the right manufacturer. Finally, we found Formella Foods and worked to get the taste exactly as it was when it was initially created. Now our goal is simple: to not be another BBQ Sauce, as there are many, but to be the great one that makes you smile.
Getting the original recipe perfected was for a reason. In Kansas City about 10-15 years ago Papa Willie’s BBQ Sauce earned the spot of 11th best BBQ sauce in the world in the American Royal BBQ Sauce Speciality Division contest.
Our founder and B worked hard to get the sauce perfected again making sure they weren’t the only one who loved it, that the signature flavor profile is always there. Three unique flavors in one bottle: sweet, tangy, and a little bit of heat. We hope it becomes your favorite, just like it is ours.
Barney didn't get to see our finished product, as he lost his fight to lung cancer in August 2024, but we know he's keeping an eye on things.
His support and legacy will live on with Papa Willie’s through the V Foundation for the impact he had on our lives in small and tall ways. We will be launching our business with a pledge to donate $.25 from every 12 oz bottle and $.50 from every ½ gallon jug sold to the Jimmy V foundation to support cancer research. As we grow in small and tall ways, so will our donations.
We hope you may consider supporting the Jimmy V foundation directly through their own work, here.