Old Mill General Store co-owners Mike Proctor, left, and Monty Daggett, both of Ringgold, Ga., show off a Christmas basket available at their 1940’s style shop in downtown Chickamauga, Ga.
Photo by Hannah CampbellBusiness for Old Mill General Store’s light, buttery kettle corn snack has grown 10 times, literally, in one year, making owners Mike Proctor, Monty Daggett and Jim Hornady three very busy guys.
The 1940’s-themed general store opened in downtown Chickamauga last November and since then Earth Fare and Whole Foods corporate offices have come a-knocking for that addictive popcorn, offered in flavors like hand-drizzled chocolate, cherry chocolate and apple cinnamon.
“We ain’t had time to stop and think. It’s exciting,” said Daggett, who grew up in Chickamauga and now lives in Ringgold.
A tasting gig at Earth Fare’s East Brainerd grand opening in October 2009 prompted a deal with Earth Fare stores in Knoxville. By June Earth Fare was selling Old Mill Kettle Corn in stores in major cities across five Southeastern states.
And there was more good business to come.
In February 2010 Old Mill was giving a product demo at Greenlife Grocery in North Chattanooga the very day that Whole Foods announced its purchase of the store. Old Mill owners met the Whole Foods regional president, who tried the popcorn, stocked it in Atlanta Whole Foods stores by August and all Whole Foods in the Southeast in September.
Old Mill Kettle Corn is part of Christmas displays at both stores this season.
Proctor, who lives in Ringgold, said kettle corn has been popular since the days of settlers and Native Americans, who popped corn on hot rocks.
“It’s probably one of the original true American specialties or treats,” he said.
Hornady, of Chickamauga, developed the original cinnamon-vanilla flavor in 2002.
“I think it has a hint of caramel but without all the calories,” Proctor said. “It smells like funnel cakes while you’re cooking it.”
Hornady only sold the popcorn at the Chattanooga Market, festivals and special events until an impromptu business meeting at Proctor’s annual Memorial Day party in 2009.
“I said, ‘Jim, this stuff is so good, why aren’t we bagging it and selling it?'” Proctor said.
Recently down-sized jobs freed Proctor to take over marketing, business administration and sales, and Daggett production and operation. Their first real customer, Proctor said, was the McCallie School’s bookstore – his alma mater.
Hornady continues the festival circuit in Old Mill’s 1941 GMC military edition truck.
“It’s very recognizable here and all over Chattanooga,” Daggett said.
Besides Old Mill’s local stakes in Wally’s Restaurants, Clumpies and high school football concessions stands, the popcorn has been shipped to Iraq, China, a hospital gift shop in Oklahoma City and more destinations.
“It’s unbelievable where people’ll send our stuff,” Proctor said.
After a year of big changes, the company’s next step looms in 2011, a little closer to home. Production and shipping have outgrown the new store’s space and will move to a 2.25-acre plot in a Chickamauga industrial park the first quarter of the year.
“We got to move,” Daggett said.
Old Mill General Store will remain where it is to offer the famous kettle corn, chocolate-covered pretzels and peppermint sticks, and other local food like Sweetwater Valley Farms cheese, Daylilies jellies and Falls Mill grits, which can be combined into Taste of Chattanooga gift baskets.
Old Mill General Store is at 110 Gordon Street in Chickamauga. For more information call (706) 375-8888 or visit here.
COMING UP
Friday, Dec. 10, Old Mill will be giving away bags of its kettle corn to people who donate food at the Channel 3 Eyewitness News Share Your Christmas food drive at First Tennessee Pavilion.