Winston-Salem Businesses

Winston-Salem, NC is the home of several historic brands, whose families helped build the city, such as the Reynolds family (tobacco), the Hanes family (textiles); as well as famous food brands: Krispy Kreme, Dewey’s Bakery, Salem Baking Company, and Texas Pete. 

Reynolds American:

Currently the second largest tobacco company in America, Reynolds American encompasses R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, American Snuff Company (formerly Conwood Co.), Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co., and Niconovum. Their products include Camel, Capri, Kool, Misty, Natural Spirit, Pall Mall, Salem, and Winston brand cigarettes, as well as Grizzly and Kodiak snuff. Reynolds American became the parent company when R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company combined with British American Tobacco. Founded by Richard Joshua “R. J.” Reynolds, son of a tobacco farmer. He became one of the wealthiest residents in North Carolina. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company helped establish the “Tobacco Road” from Virginia, through the North Carolina Foothills, Triad and Piedmont, sustaining the livelihood of hundreds of tobacco farmers and towns like Tobaccoville, NC. www.ReynoldsAmerican.com

HanesBrands

HanesBrands is a clothing company made up of Hanes, Champion, Platex, Bali andL’eggs. Just My Size, Hanes Hosiery, Barely There. Hanesbrands spun off from parent company Sara Lee in 2006. The Hanes companies were the center of textile mills in the area, which boomed following the decline of tobacco farming. www.Hanesbrands.com

Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is an international chain of doughnut shops famous for their “Hot Now” signs. Winston-Salem has been the home of Krispy Kreme since 1937, with founder, Vernon Rudolph, opening the first shop opening up in Historic Old Salem. Their main store in Winston-Salem is on Stratford Road, where customers can watch the conveyor belt of hot doughnuts ride through the “kreme” waterfall. www.krispykreme.com

Texas Pete

The T. W. Garner Company, famous for their Louisiana-style hot sauce, is based in Winston-Salem. Thad Garner introduced the hot sauce at his barbecue stand, the Dixie Pig, in 1929. It is now the third best-selling hot sauce in the U.S. The company now sells a variety of sauces, chili, banana peppers and other condiments under their Texas Pete label, as well as other T.W. Garner Food labels: Garner jellies and Green Mountain Gringo salsas, dips and chips. www.texaspete.com

Goody’s Manufacturing Co.

This family-owned business based in Winston-Salem was founded in 1932. It’s most well-known for their Goody’s Powder, a pain reliever made up of aspirin, caffeine, and acetaminophen. Other products manufactured included throat lozenges and sprays. NASCAR legend Richard Petty has been the face of Goody’s Headache Powder promotion for many years. Goody’s products are currently marketed and sold by GlaxoSmithKline. www.GoodysPowder.com

Salem Baking/Dewey’s Bakery

Dewey’s Bakery was established in Winston-Salem in 1932. The company created Salem Baking for the marketing and distribution of its traditional baked goods and named it after the historic Moravian settlement, Salem, where the recipe for their famous cookies originated. Their products include Moravian cookies, cheese straws, cheese biscuits, shortbread cookies, flat breads and more. www.SalemBaking.com

What’s Your Favorite Winston Salem Business?

So, we want to know, what is your favorite among the Winston-Salem businesses and why. Share your stories in our comment section below and who knows you might even help someone else find a new something special made right here in the Winston-Salem area!