Mt. Olive Pickles One Step Closer to Winning “Coolest Thing Made in NC”

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Chamber of Commerce has announced that Mt. Olive Pickle Co. is among the 31 semifinalists — 15 for the medium-to-large business category and 16 for the small business category — for its annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition, which began with 80 nominees. In the first round of voting, about 20,000 votes were cast across the field of candidates.

“Mt. Olive is proud to be the No. 1 best-selling brand of pickles, peppers and relishes in the United States,” said Greg Smith, vice-president of sales and marketing. “We are equally proud that we are headquartered right here in our hometown of Mount Olive, North Carolina, and have been for nearly 100 years.”

New for 2022, the contest will recognize two winners, one for businesses with fewer than 100 employees and one for businesses with more than 100 employees.

“We encourage our fans to vote in the Coolest Thing Made in NC,” Smith said. “We think our iconic kosher dill flavor is the coolest. The perfect meal requires the perfect pickle.”

This is the third year that the North Carolina Chamber has held the popular, public-driven contest, which spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry, an industry that generates more than 17 percent of the gross state product and employs more than 10 percent of the state’s workforce.

“Congratulations goes to Mt. Olive Pickles for advancing to the semifinals,” said NC Chamber president and CEO Gary Salamido. “We are grateful to the entire manufacturing community – the backbone of our state’s economy for more than a century. As we always say at the NC Chamber, what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina.”

“These 31 impressive semifinalists show that innovation is thriving in every corner of the state, and we look forward to a strong competition in the next round,” said North Carolina Farm Bureau President Shawn Harding.

The North Carolina Farm Bureau is serving as the presenting sponsor of the online competition, and Business North Carolina is this year’s media partner. As the exclusive North Carolina affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers, the chamber knows that a strong manufacturing industry is crucial to the state’s economic and competitive success. The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership is collaborating on the annual contest as a supporting organization.

To vote, go to www.coolestthingmadeinnc.com to vote for the coolest thing made in NC. The field of candidates will narrow with each round of voting, and the winning product will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 6.

Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC. In addition to receiving a trophy, the victorious company and product will be featured in NC Chamber and Business North Carolina publications, podcasts and social and digital media, among additional statewide publicity efforts.