12 Southern Food Brands You Need to Try

The South is home to some amazing food brands that put forth some unbelievable flavors. From sauces and spices to bread and beyond, there is no shortage of culinary ingenuity coming out of this region. Thankfully, these brands can all be shopped online no matter where you live. So get ready to place your orders — these are the Southern food brands you need to try!

12 Southern Food Brands You Need to Try

Hot Sauce Nashville

Those who like a little heat need to check out Hot Sauce Nashville, a local, small-batch brand of sauces that packs a punch. Options include Hot Green, Hot Garlic and Hot Ginger, each with amazing flavor and yes, some heat. Find them for $10 each HERE. Plus, for every bottle purchased, Hot Sauce Nashville donates a meal to Nashville’s Second Harvest Food Bank. That’s a heat you can feel good about!

Hot Sauce Nashville can be found for $10 a bottle HERE. Image: Instagram

Sweet Grass Dairy

Based in Thomasville, GA, Sweet Grass Dairy is a family operation that opened in 2010 and takes the art of cheese-making seriously. Sweet Grass cows are all grass-fed and are moved to fresh pastures every 12 hours. The result is healthier cows and a better cheese product. Today, the award-winning business has an amazing selection of cheeses and several gift box options to create the perfect snack board. Shop online HERE.

Pull together an amazing cheese board with the help of Sweet Grass Dairy. Image: Sweet Grass Dairy

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Cultured South

For all-things-fermented, check out Cultured South, an Atlanta-based company that sells kombucha, elixirs, tonics and more. You can shop all of these on their website as well as other Georgia brands like Pure Abundance vegan cheese products and Piedmont Provisions preserves and vinegars. Click HERE to place an order.

Atlanta-based Cultured South creates fermented products like this CBD kombucha. Image: Cultured South

Shotwell Candy Co.

Shotwell Candy Co., based in Memphis, TN, is owner Jerrod Smith’s legacy. A Memphis native, Jerrod started making caramel in his own kitchen after coming home from his day job. Using simple, fresh ingredients and timeless methods, he turned his efforts into a wildly successful brand as Shotwell has won awards from Southern Living, Martha Stewart Living and Garden & Gun. Find his products at shotwellcandy.com or on SB Shop.

Shotwell Candy Co. is a beloved Memphis candy brand. Find Shotwell Candy products HERE or on SB Shop. Image: Shotwell Candy Co.

R&R Acres

Located in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, R&R Acres offers a bevy of farm-fresh products, from fresh honey and honeycomb from the onsite apiary to honey and goat’s milk soaps. They also sell sustainable homestead pork, body butters, and during certain seasons, ducks and geese. Peruse their selection of products HERE.

Find a variety of honey products and much more at R&R Acres. Image: R&R Acres

Wickles Pickles

Created with fresh ingredients based on a tried-and-true 90-year-old recipe, it’s no wonder Dadeville, AL-based Wickles Pickles is a Southern delicacy. While their delicious Original Chips may be their best seller, we can’t get enough of their Spicy Red Sandwich Spread or their Wicked Okra. You can’t go wrong with any of the Wickles Pickles products! Find this brand online HERE.

Wickles Pickles is a Dadeville, AL-based business. Image: Wickles Pickles

Mr. Aaron’s Goods

Music led Aaron Distler to Nashville, but an unfortunate turn of events led him to his passion: pasta making. In addition to working with chefs to create customized pasta (it’s a thing!), Aaron also makes small-batch, whole egg pasta that can be found at Citizen Market and Demeter’s Common, as well as on menus at Cafe Roze, Deacon’s New South, and other local Nashville restaurants. Or experience the taste of Aaron’s fresh pasta and other pantry items from the comfort of home when you order from his online store.

Nashville-based Mr. Aaron’s Goods offers small-batch, whole-egg pasta. Image: Mr. Aaron’s Goods

Alabama Sunshine Sauces

From the ever-popular white BBQ sauce to their classic hot sauces, Alabama Sunshine has truly perfected its delicious farm-to-table recipes. Crafted in Fayette, AL, Alabama Sunshine sauces provide the perfect ‘kick’ to any dish using fresh, locally sourced produce. Find their products online HERE.

Alabama Sunshine is based in Fayette, AL. Image: Alabama Sunshine

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Backhouse Foods

We love a brand with a beautiful backstory, and Backhouse Foods’ is just that. Inspired by a family recipe, the brand now offers a collection of amazing sauces that will satisfy any sweet tooth. Butterscotch, fudge, walnut and praline sauces are available, and the butterscotch and fudge options are also available in a “tipsy” variety. That is, they have a touch of booze. All are sold separately, or you can buy them in sets. Find their products HERE.

Backhouse Foods is a family-owned business that was inspired by a family recipe. Image: Backhouse Foods

Alabama Peanut Company

For an authentic Birmingham experience, the famous roasted peanuts from Alabama Peanut Company are a must. Since 1907, Alabama Peanut Company has served the Magic City fresh roasted and boiled peanuts daily. Get your peanut fix via next-day delivery or shipping, or stop by the Birmingham storefront on historic Morris Avenue, where they are offering no-contact pickup.

Alabama Peanut Company is based in Birmingham, AL. Image: Alabama Peanut Company

Roots & Branches

This NC-based company started in the kitchen of Clark and Ana Mitchell way back in 2010. They moved to Asheville from New Jersey intending to open a restaurant, but 10 years — and one tasty brand of artisan crackers — later, and Roots & Branches is still going strong. Flavors like black pepper and olive oil, rosemary and olive oil, and sesame seed and olive oil are made from all-natural ingredients and provide an elevated snacking experience. Find Roots & Branches crackers and soups online HERE.

Roots & Branches artisan crackers are made in Asheville, NC. Image: Roots & Branches

The Nashville Jam Co.

Husband and wife duo Cortney and Gary Baron grew a variety of peppers and heirloom tomatoes in their family garden. As they had more than they could eat themselves, they started to make jams and jellies out of the remaining fruits and veggies — and voila, The Nashville Jam Co. was born! Flavor options include strawberry jalapeño, blueberry, 6 pepper and more. Stock up at their online store HERE.