Blog Post

World's Largest Plant-Based Smokehouse, world record in Cornelius, North Carolina

Mar 27, 2024

Cornelius, North Carolina, United States--Barvecue is a mission-driven company based in Cornelius, NC, which seeks to create the best-tasting wood-smoked, plant-based foods, while building a company that cares about people, animals, and the planet; the 10,000 square foot production facility, called Carolina Smokehouse, has an initial capacity of making 800,000 pounds of Barvecue a year and sets the world record for being the World's Largest Plant-Based Smokehouse, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"Barvecue makes delicious hand-crafted plant-based comfort foods that are good for you and good for the planet. Authentically wood-smoked Pulled BVQ and Carnitas are available in over 1,000 grocery stores including Whole Foods Market, Harris Teeter, Giant, The Fresh Market, Lowes Foods, Earth Fare, Harmon's, Central Market, Gelson's Market, and Food City.

"The company recently expanded its foodservice business in a partnership with WebstaurantStore, the largest online restaurant supply store," the official Press Release says.

"Barvecue is a mission-driven company based in Cornelius, NC. Established in 2017, Barvecue seeks to create the best-tasting wood-smoked, plant-based foods, while building a company that cares about people, animals, and the planet.

"Founder and CEO, Lee Cooper, noted, "There is a huge opportunity to define the future of plant-based foods and the team at Barvecue is not only producing delicious food, but is also building an amazing emerging brand and business that is unique in our industry. Completion of this equity funding round allows Barvecue to forge ahead with thoughtful resolve as we navigate the current macroeconomic challenges before us."

"Founded in 2017, Barvecue set out to create authentically wood-smoked, plant-based foods to delight customers of all backgrounds. With an ode to its Carolina roots, Barvecue built the world’s largest plant based smokehouse. A smokehouse that works in tandem with its surrounding beauty and nourishes both body and soul," the official website says.

"World's Largest Plant-Based Smokehouse. Made with simple, nutritious ingredients: Whole soybeans, North Carolina sweet potatoes, organic apple cider vinegar, expeller-pressed canola oil, and spices. That’s all.

"We believe in sourcing clean ingredients from quality suppliers, efficiently managing our manufacturing process, and taking care of our stakeholders. It is a core value and practice to give back to the communities that we serve. Barvecue donates to non-profits that align with our vision to create a more sustainable and humane food system."

"Barvecue, producers of wood-smoked, plant-based proteins, has opened the world's largest plant-based smokehouse," the Food Engineering Magazine says.

"The 10,000 square foot production facility, called Carolina Smokehouse, opens for production with an initial capacity of making 800,000 pounds of Barvecue a year and expects to employ 15 team members as production ramps up."

"Barvecue, producers of wood-smoked, plant-based proteins, makes history this week by opening the world's largest plant-based smokehouse. The 10,000 square foot production facility, called Carolina Smokehouse, opens for production today with an initial capacity of making 800,000 pounds of Barvecue a year and expects to employ 15 team members as production ramps up," the official Press Release says.

""We're thrilled to increase production capacity of our wood-smoked, plant-based proteins to meet this demand as we expand into over 700 grocery stores by year-end," said Zack Werner, co-founder and COO, of Barvecue.

"Barvecue aims to do good for people, the planet, and animals. This is evident in its Carolina Smokehouse. In addition to producing plant-based meats that are kinder to our planet and animals, the Smokehouse prioritizes a healthy, bright, safer environment for staff."

"In July 2021, vegan meat brand Barvecue opened the Carolina Smokehouse—the world’s largest plant-based smokehouse.

"Located in Cornelius, NC, the 10,000-square-foot facility have the initial capacity of producing 800,000 pounds of the brand’s meats, including Pulled BVQ (vegan barbecue pork with original sauce), Chopped BVQ (a gluten-free version of the Pulled BVQ) and Naked versions of both (lightly seasoned with no sauce)," the VegNews.com says.

“As the plant-based meat market surges, so, too, does the demand for our wood-smoked, plant-based Barvecue,” Lee Cooper, Barvecue Founder & CEO, said. “As we grow to keep up with demand for Barvecue products, we decided that it was time to expand production and lead the way in the plant-based barbecue market.”

"Founded in 2017 by Lee Cooper along with founding partners Zack Werner and Jeni Cooper, Barvecue produces wood-smoked, plant-based barbecue that the company claims is similar in taste as well as mouthfeel compared to the conventional meat version," the Green Queen says.

"To be located in North Carolina, the smokehouse will initially have a capacity to produce 800,000 pounds of Barvecue’s Pulled BVQ (with original sauce), Chopped BVQ (same as pulled, but gluten-free), and Naked versions of both (lightly seasoned, no sauce), per year.

"According to another report, the global plant-based pork market is expected to rise at an exceptional CAGR of 24.0% between 2020 and 2030, with barbecue as an important part of this market. A landmark study showed that apart from health benefits, a plant-based diet is good for the environment given that even if fossil fuels were to be eradicated immediately, the Paris agreement goals are still out of reach without a global concerted shift away from meat and dairy-heavy diets."