(Stillwater, Okla. – June 12, 2013) From its start as a mere kitchen concoction in 1947, Head Country Food Products Inc. has flourished into a successful, internationally known company, thanks to a 66-year-old barbecue sauce recipe, hard work and some help from FAPC.

Oklahoma’s No. 1 selling barbecue sauce has experienced a lot of success since its establishment, including receiving the 2013 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Exporting and the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Achievement Certificate.

“We are very pleased to receive this award,” said Paul Schatte, Head Country co-owner. “We have worked diligently to grow our international business. It is a pleasure to provide a taste of Oklahoma on a global perspective.”

This annual governor’s award recognizes successful Oklahoma firms for significant efforts to increase export sales, which means more jobs and enhanced economic development in the state.

While the Oklahoma company has built a name for itself, it took time and hard work. Recipe creator Donovan “Bud” Head developed Head Country Original Bar-B-Q Sauce in Shidler in 1947. In 1977, Donovan sold his recipe to his nephew, Danny Head. Production moved to Ponca City in 1982, where 150 cases were sold in the first year. It took more than five years for Danny Head to make a profit, but he stuck with it.

“The perseverance Danny Head had in the early years personally making deliveries and sales directly to many of their grocery accounts played a big factor in their success,” said FAPC business and marketing relations manager Chuck Willoughby. “I also believe that Paul Schatte demonstrates that same perseverance and dedication as Head Country’s founder, Danny Head. He is creative, forward-thinking and strategically minded.”

Head Country’s facility is triple the size it was in 1994 as a result of four plant additions. FAPC began working with Head Country in 2001 to assist with its second expansion.

Since then, FAPC has assisted with product development and equipment identification for its salsa line and provided assistance and feedback for its social media and marketing strategy.

“I think a lot of their success can be attributed to the efforts they put into marketing their products,” Willoughby said. “They understand the value of marketing directly to consumers at events such as the Oklahoma and Texas state fairs.”

One of FAPC’s biggest contributions to Head Country was its assistance in creating a food safety plan, Willoughby said.

“FAPC has played a considerable role in Head Country’s development of a food safety plan to include HACCP plan assistance, internal plant audits and customer-driven food safety programs,” Willoughby said. “During the second quarter of 2012, FAPC assisted Head Country in meeting British Retail Consortium criteria to meet Global Food Safety Initiative compliance requirements by one of its major customers.”

Following these protocols has made it easier for Head Country to engage international customers.

“Implementing and following BRC regulations have helped us maintain and gain retail and food service business,” Schatte said. “BRC standards are the regulations the international trade readily accepts. By having this level of certification, we are able to penetrate the international market without any hesitation from foreign customers.”

Head Country first caught the attention of international customers through its participation in barbecue competitions. Consequently, word of the award-winning sauce spread far and wide, and in 1999 the company made its first export to Germany. In 2006, Head Country was approached by an interested Sweden-based company and began exporting in spring 2007. Today, Head Country exports 43,000 pounds of barbecue sauce to Stockholm per month.

“Americans are enjoying our ethnic foods from around the world,” Schatte said. “While outdoor cooking is the oldest style of cooking known to mankind, the U.S. has perfected the method. The rest of the world is eager to learn about what we can do.”

Not only has FAPC helped Head Country, but Head Country has also been a significant supporter of FAPC.

“Paul Schatte has served on FAPC’s Industry Advisory Committee since 2007 and is currently the chair,” Willoughby said. “In addition, foundation contributions from Head Country have totaled nearly $100,000. We are fortunate to work with Head Country and look forward to a continued relationship.”

Much has changed since the start of the company, but the one thing that remains the same is the recipe. The beloved recipe is the same as it was 66 years ago, with one exception — Head Country now uses Worcestershire sauce without anchovies.

“We have stayed true to the recipe with that one little tweak, and people love our sauce,” said Danny Head, Head Country co-owner.

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.