A Little Bit About Our Journey

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40 Years and Counting

Welcome to Willingham’s, a world-championship BBQ products company and competition team celebrating 40 years of excellence. Since 1983 we have been dedicated to bringing the finest in BBQ and BBQ products to the masses and are proud to be recognized as one of the leading names in the industry.

Founded in 1983 by BBQ Hall of Fame Pitmaster John Willingham and is now under the direction of championship Pitmaster Paul Holden. As a competition team, we have competed and won at some of the most prestigious BBQ and culinary events in the world, including Memphis in May, The American Royal, The Jack Daniels Invitational, and The World Food Championships, racking up numerous awards and accolades, including 5 World Grand Championships, 23 Category World Championships, over 25 Grand Championships, and 100s of top 10 finishes and notable awards and recognition. Our commitment to quality and dedication to the craft of BBQ has earned us a reputation as one of the world's top BBQ product companies and competition teams.

Our cooking techniques and award-winning seasonings and sauces drive our success on the competition circuit. Each seasoning and sauce is carefully crafted and will bring the taste of competition-style BBQ to your backyard, kitchen, or restaurant. Our products are made with only the finest ingredients and are trusted by over 50 restaurants, 1000s of individuals, and countless BBQ teams, including our W’ham Brand Ambassadors. They are designpaul holden worldfoodsed to enhance the natural flavors in whatever dish you may be preparing. So whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster, chef, or a beginner just getting started, our seasonings and sauces are the perfect addition to any culinary style.

At Willingham’s, we are passionate about BBQ and are dedicated to sharing our love of the craft with others. So whether you’re a fan of our competition team, a user of our products, or simply someone who loves good BBQ, we invite you to join us on our journey and become a part of the Willingham’s family.

So come on in and take a look around. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past 40 years and are excited to continue bringing the best in BBQ to you for many years to come.

Our Mission

A commitment to excellence and the integrity of every product we offer.  A pledge to help everyone to discover the thrill and realization of the joys of bbq and the Willingham vision that a family that cooks together (as they play together) stays together.

1986 1990 cook trailer
Willingham Booth at Memphis in May
2010 2022 cook trailer
2023 cook trailer
wham awards display

W'ham®! The Best. No Brag, Just Fact.

Top Calls

Year Award Event
2023 First Place Seafood Rub National Barbecue & Grilling Association - Awards of Excellence
2021 First Place Brisket (perfect 180 score!) BBQ Boogie & Blues, Calhoun, GA
2017 People's Choice Sip & Swine, Lawrenceville, GA
2014 First Place Sauce Cornelia Apple Blossom Festival, Cornelia, GA
2013 First Place Chicken Pigs and Peaches, Kennesaw, GA
2013 First Place Ribs Atlanta BBQ Festival, Atlanta, GA
2011 People's Choice Best Butt in Town Canton Pignic, Canton, GA
2001 First Place Chicken Big Brother, Big Sister Charity BBQ, Lafayette, La.
2000 Best Sauce on the Planet American Royal, Kansas City, Missouri
1999 Grand Champion Mississippi State BBQ, Ashland, Miss.
1999 Grand Champion, Best Ribs Overall Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
1998 First Place Ribs Prim Valley BBQ Championship, Prim, NY
1998 First Place Whole Hog Jack Daniel's Invitational, Lynchberg, TN
1998 Grand Champion Mississippi State BBQ, Ashland, MS
1998 Grand Champion North Carolina State Championship, Tryon, N.C.
1998 Grand Champion Prim Valley BBQ Championship, Prim, NY
1997 Grand Champion Mississippi State BBQ, Ashland, Miss.
1997 People's Choice Smithsonian July 4th Invitational, Washington, D.C.
1996 Best Sauce Arkansas BBQ Championship, Batesville, AR
1996 First Place Ribs St. Jude/VFW BBQ Festival, Whitehaven, TN
1996 Grand Champion St. Jude/VFW BBQ Festival, Whitehaven, TN
1996 People's Choice Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1995 First Place Beef Anything But Pork, Southhaven, MS
1995 First Place Cajun Hot Sauce American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1995 First Place Hot Sauce American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1995 First Place Mild Vinegar Sauce American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1995 First Place Seafood Pasta Anything But Pork, Southhaven, MS
1995 Grand Champion Anything But Pork, Southhaven, MS
1994 Grand Champion American Royal-Invitational, Kansas City, MO
1994 First Place Beef Brisket American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1994 First Place Farmland Ribs American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1994 Grand Champion Miss. State Championship, Lexington, Miss.
1994 Reserve Grand Champion North Carolina State Championship, Tryon, N.C.
1992 Best Sauce on the Planet American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1992 First Piace Poultry Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA
1992 First Piace Ribs Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA
1992 First Piace Shoulder Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA
1992 First Place "Skinner's Pasta" Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1992 First Place Anything But Pork Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1992 First Place Brisket American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1992 First Place Lamb American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1992 Grand Champion Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA
1992 Grand Champion Chicken American Pitmasters BBQ, Boston, Mass.
1992 Grand Champion People's Choice Ribs Star Trib, Magis, MS
1992 Grand Champion Ribs People's Choice, BBQ Festival, Norfolk, VA
1992 People's Choice Great Yankee BBQ, Boston, MA
1992 Reserve Grand Champion American Royal-Open, Kansas City, MO
1991 First Place Brisket American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1991 First Place Brisket Castle BBQ Fest, Orlando, FL
1991 First Place Ribs Christmas on the River, Demopolis, AL
1991 First Place Shoulder American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1991 First Place Shoulder Castle BBQ Fest, Orlando, FL
1991 First Place Shoulder City Fest, Tuscaloosa, AL
1991 First Place Whole Hog Castle BBQ Fest, Orlando, FL
1991 First Place Whole Hog Christmas on the River, Demopolis, AL
1991 First Place Whole Hog City Fest, Tuscaloosa, AL
1991 Grand Champion American Royal-Invitational, Kansas City, MO
1991 Grand Champion Christmas on the River, Demopolis, AL
1991 Grand Champion National Rib Cookoff, Cleveland, OH
1990 First Place Brisket American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1990 First Place Shoulder American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1990 First Place Whole Hog Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1990 First Place Wings American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1990 Grand Champion National Rib Cookoff, Cleveland, OH
1989 First Place Lamb American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1989 The Hickory Switch Award Best "Que" in Memphis, TN
1987 First Place Spare Ribs World's Best Ribs, Richmond, VA
1987 Grand Champion World's Best Ribs, Richmond, VA
1984 First Place Beef American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1984 First Place Lamb American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1984 First Place Pork American Royal, Kansas City, MO
1984 First Place Ribs Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1984 Grand Champion American Royal-Invitational, Kansas City, MO
1984 Grand Champion Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1983 First Place Ribs Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1983 Grand Champion Memphis In May, Memphis, TN

Other Notable Appearances/Recognition

Year Award Event
2021 Featured on Martynas Starkus' Pasaulio Puodai (Pots of the World) on LRT.LT TV Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
2013 Featured on Adam Richman's "Fandemonium" Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
2001 Featured as "Best BBQ in Memphis, TN" Chili Pepper Magazine
2001 Featured on Food Nation with Bobby Flay S2 Ep17 - Memphis, TN New York, NY
2000 Frito Lay's / Cross Creek Ranch BBQ & Barn Dance, McKinney, TX
1999 Featured on Food Network's with Al Roker New York, NY
1998 Best Cooker in the World Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1998 Featured on "Home Cooking with Amy Coleman" Vancouver, B.C.
1998 Featured on NBC Today Show's BBQ Special New York, NY
1997 Best Cooker in the World Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1997 Featured on "At Home on the Grill" PBS Special Memphis, TN
1997 Featured on "Prime Time Live" at Memphis in May Memphis, TN
1996 Best Que Offshore Freeport McMoran Invitational, Gulf of Mexico
1995 The "Sony's" Best Barbeque in America Long Island, NY
1995 The Quinn Award for Bar-B-Que Excellence Jonesboro, AR
1994 Best Cooker in the World Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1993 Best Cooker in the World Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1992 Cook Team of the Year Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
1991 Cook Team of the Year Memphis In May, Memphis, TN
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