Indianola Pecan House
Mississippi is known for many things, the blues, historic and beautiful
antebellum homes, Elvis, and pecans, with almost 30 growers in the state and the
best specialty pecans anywhere. The Indianola Pecan House, based out of
Indianola, Miss. in the Mississippi Delta, was founded in 1979 by the Timbs
Family who still own and manage the company. Wheeler Timbs, Jr., learned that
the pecan company he had worked for since the 1960’s was being put up for sale
and decided it would be a great business challenge.
Indianola Pecan House is not
a farming company, but instead acts as a year-round distributer of raw pecans
and specialty goods. It buys the raw pecans from farms across the Southeastern
and Southwestern United States, including here in Mississippi, to produce a
variety of pecan products including in-shell pecans, pecan halves and pieces,
and spiced pecans that are available in an assortment of flavors. Even though
the raw goods are purchased from across the country, all of its specialty
products are all produced and packaged in the heart of the Mississippi Delta by
Mississippi workers. Wheeler “Tim” Timbs, III, who is the current President of
Indianola Pecan House says, “Mississippi is the heart and soul of our company.
We stay in Mississippi because the people here are what make our business, with
good people and hard work.” He attributes Mississippians to the on-going
expansion and success of the company, with increased demand as a result of
word-of-mouth recommendations from his Mississippi clients. “It all started here
but we now ship all over the country and also internationally, and we have had
retail stores expand into Louisiana and Tennessee in past years,” he added.
The
business has grown to include more than the traditional gourmet pecan products
for which Indianola Pecan House has become well known. Businesses looking to
develop new branded products, for personal distribution or through Indianola
Pecan House are offered assistance through “Flavor Teams” that develop
customized pecan and snack products for inquiring clients. The pecan house has
to make a variety of coated and roasted pecans including a panning machine. This
provides current and future customers with a variety of flavor opportunities.
One example is the Jack Daniel’s distillery based in Lynchburg, Tennessee. In
2004, the Jack Daniel’s company approached Indianola Pecan House with an
interesting business proposition, incorporating Jack Daniel’s products in with
pecans and developing a customized flavor. The end result Jack Daniel’s Whiskey
Praline Pecans. Indianola Pecan House is now one of only 30 Jack Daniel’s
licensees worldwide. Other companies have also teamed up with Indianola Pecan
House to create readily available name brand treats.
For the individual customer
seeking the secret family recipe gourmet pecans and other delicious products,
Indianola Pecan House makes its products available through retail stores,
internet and mail-order sales, and by phone. It also prides itself on great
southern hospitality, customer service, and quality products at a fair and
reasonable price.
Indianola Pecan House does more than make your holidays and
special occasions a little tastier, but also gives back to their community and
to organizations that represent Mississippi culture such as the B. B. King
Museum and helping to build activity facilities for children in the state.
For
more information on the Indianola Pecan House, please visit their website:
www.pecanhouse.com