Wickedly delicious pickles. Well, wickedly delicious pickles, okra, relish, pepper rings and pepper strips, to be exact.
What started as a grandmother's homemade recipe has blossomed into an nationwide operation that pickles, packages and ships 10,000 cases a month to help perfect potato salads, barbecue sandwiches and every other major holiday dish across the country.
The company is run by brothers Will and Trey Sims and long-time friend, Andy Anderson.
Dadeville is home to both Sims Food Inc. headquarters and the Sims brothers. Anderson is originally from the Auburn/Opelika area.
"When we started we could only turn out 27 cases," said Will Sims, partner of Sims Food Inc. Although the business partners have found great success in the pickle business, it has not been without obstacles.
The company's warehouse was destroyed by the devastating tornadoes of spring 2011, leaving Sims Food without any place to continue their work.
"We were so lucky to have help," Will said. "Terry Ratlif helped us move into a temporary space in Opelika. We were back in business within two weeks."
Will, Trey and Anderson rebuilt the warehouse, which is now back in business just as before.
"It was a hard time for us," Trey said. "But we worked through it and we only ended up missing one shipment in the transition."
After 10 years with Wickles Pickles, the Sims brothers and Anderson say they are still surprised by the success they have found. Neither partner was a business major nor did either attend culinary school.
"We learned through the school of hard knocks," Will said. "Really we just had to take it slow. Don't try to build it all in one day."
Before Wickles Pickles took the nation by storm, the unique pickle brine was brewed in a one woman show, Dana Ferniany.
Ferniany began jarring the uniquely sweet and sour pickle brine for friends and neighbors as gifts. Cousin to the Sims brothers, Ferniany helped to start the company in December of 1998. By 2001 Anderson joined the team.
"First time I tried them, I loved them," Anderson said. "I told them right away, 'if y'all ever need any help you let me know.'"
The company has grown from the original pickle product to incorporate six jarred goods, as well a gourmet product line, Not Yo Mama's, which features a pepper and a habanero marmalade and bloody mary mix.
"Our friend was bottling up the Not Yo Mama's mix, but he wasn't going to be able to keep it going," Anderson said.
"He was basically working out of his basement. So we said we would take over it and bring it on as one of our products."
Wickles Pickles can be found in grocery stores, online at simsfood.com and on your burger or in your bloody mary at the popular downtown restaurant, The Hound. Get a taste of the uniquely sweet, wickedly delicious pickles today.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
