DennyMike goes back down south!

Well it’s been a great year so far, and all of us at DennyMike’s wanted to share all our recent (and past) awards with you to keep y’all up-to-date on out going-ons! Hope your gearing up for summer like we are are stocking up on lot’s ‘a BBQ supplies.

Need a reason to BBQ? Shop now!!!

» Download a PDF of our 2012 Haul to Date Sheet

DennyMike’s Favorite Pick: grillgrate.com

by DennyMikes. Posted on October 11, 2011

11 Oct

One of our newest and favorite companies, GrillGrates! Check them out and when you do, make sure to use our sauces on your ‘cue! Sorry folks, couldn’t help myself with that one!

Click here to visit their site

MaineBiz Sticky Business Profile

by DennyMikes. Posted on September 5, 2011

05 Sep

Sticky business | BBQ king DennyMike’s grabs kudos for sauces and rubs

DennyMike’s was recently featured in MaineBiz’s Sticky Business Section. Check out a snippet of the article below or click on the headline above to read the full article.

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By ANNA FIORENTINO: Mainebiz contributing writer

When people in the Northeast talk about barbecue, they think of putting a burger on a gas grill long enough for it to look like a hockey puck. And while Yankee pot roast may be a few dashes of cayenne pepper away from traditional smoked barbecue brisket, Mainers aren’t about to spend 15 hours in front of a barbecue smoker.

“New Englanders are in a hurry and that’s why barbecue — I mean real barbecue cooking — never caught on,” says Dennis Michael Sherman, owner of DennyMike’s, a specialty producer of sauces and rubs in York garnering kudos from gourmet magazines and national barbecue competitions alike.

But little by little, that barbecue hesitation is beginning to lessen. As new sauces, styles and flavors pop up across the country, backyard enthusiasts are turning into pit masters ready to compete in world-class barbecue competitions.

“Barbecue is slowly starting to evolve here in Maine,” says Sherman. “DennyMike’s success was all about the timing.”

In 2006, DennyMike’s sauces, and later its rubs, hit the shelves of Portland’s Whole Foods. Conveniently, it was at a time when New Englanders were also beginning to introduce varied flavors of traditional barbecue to their palates, says Sherman.

Today, DennyMike’s four award-winning, gluten-free, all-natural Kosher sauces, and five rubs are sold in nearly a thousand national retailers, in hundreds of Whole Foods and Hannaford supermarkets alone. In six years, Sherman’s sales have catapulted to nearly $1 million, growing 50% over the last three years alone, a trend he expects to continue.

Sherman has erased his $150,000 startup debt with the exception of an equity line on his York home, where he headquarters his business, employing six, including his wife, Patty, who keeps the books. He expects to double his work force within the next six to 12 months. Internet sales at www.dennymikes.com increase each week, now averaging 30 to 40 transactions of about $50 each, with an occasional spike such as the one that followed his appearance on NBC’s “TODAY” show over Christmas of 2009 that brought in 600 orders…. READ FULL ARTICLE ONLINE HERE!

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2011 Best BBQ Rubs in the Country!

by DennyMikes. Posted on March 17, 2011

17 Mar

DennyMike’s Award-Winning Sauces and Rubs Earn 11 Top Awards at National BBQ Conference and Competition

Dennis Sherman Bests the Competition and Shares Insider Secrets During BBQ-Pro-Packed Roundtable

York, Maine — Dennis Sherman, creator of the DennyMike’s line of sauces and rubs and New England’s unofficial barbecue ambassador, recently returned from the 2011 National Barbecue Association’s (www.nbbqa.org) 20th Anniversary Conference with an armload of high-profile awards for his rubs, sauces and packaging, finishing among the leaders in total medals awarded. Sherman also earned a prime slot at the conference in Greenville, S.C., joining barbecue hot shots including Dave Anderson, founder of Famous Dave’s; John Markus, executive producer of TLC’s reality show “BBQ Pitmasters”; Chris Lilly, head honcho of Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Ala.; and the Legend of BBQ himself, Mike Mills, for “Meet the Masters,” an intimate roundtable discussion that is considered one of the highlights of the annual meeting.

“It was indeed an honor to be recognized by my peers in the highly competitive barbecue industry,” said Sherman. “I’m always proud to show folks across the country that Maine is, indeed, bona fide barbecue country.”

Sherman’s Sublime Swine was named the 2011 national gold medalist in the all-purpose rub category. In addition, Fintastic, DennyMike’s savory seafood seasoning, won gold in the Mediterranean- herb rub category. Cow Bell Hell was awarded silver in the Cajun Rub category, and Chick Magnet earned a 4th place finish in the Southwest category. Sherman’s popular products earned two additional 4th place medals and one 5th place medal (complete awards list below).

In addition to the prestigious product awards, DennyMike’s labels and packaging, designed by Portland-based Pulp+Wire design and marketing firm, were recognized by the judges. The Chick Magnet label earned gold in the Best Label competition, and DennyMike’s Wooden Crate 9 Pack Gift Set, Hat & ‘Cue Gift Set, and Smoker Box Gift Set were awarded 2nd 3rd and 5th place, respectively, for their design and functionality.

“These products stand out as leaders in the industry,” said Jeff Allen, executive director of the NBBQA. “We are pleased to recognize them for their contributions to supporting the great American tradition of barbecue.”

The annual Awards of Excellence recognize the very best barbecue products in a number of industry categories. Winners were selected from nearly 300 submissions by judges from the Rend Lake Culinary Arts School in Ina, Ill.

During the elite “Meet the Masters” roundtable, conference attendees, comprised of restaurateurs, caterers, competitors, product developers and backyard BBQ enthusiasts, met with their choice of three masters for a personal question-and-answer session covering their experience, expertise and advice. Sherman focused on “Creating a Brand That Wins: From Your Kitchen to the Medals Stand,” sharing how he created and launched his consistently award-winning line of sauces and rubs.

“It was a great personal pleasure to keep such good company at a conference of this caliber,” Sherman explained. “These guys are the real deal when you are talking about barbecue icons, and it was incredible to work alongside them and help spread the gospel of great American barbecue.”

Sherman’s Maine-made products have garnered attention from prominent outlets including NBC’s “TODAY” show, The Houston Chronicle, and Marie Claire and also have consistently earned accolades and repeat awards from industry giants, such as the NBBQA and the Scovie Awards. A barbecue professional and rabid advocate, Sherman shares his love of barbecue at local, regional and national demonstrations, cooking contests and conferences throughout the year.

About DennyMike’s

DennyMike’s is a Maine company with roots founded in the spirit of true, Texas-style dry rub BBQ. All of DennyMike’s award-winning, gluten-free, all-natural and Kosher-Certified sauces and rubs are hand-crafted in Maine in small batches, using only the finest ingredients, including natural sea salt, wildflower honey and pure Barbados molasses. DennyMike’s rubs are a great way to begin any meal, whether cooking in your kitchen or at your pit, and his sauces add a unique finishing touch to whatever dishes are presented at the table. DennyMike’s products are available nationwide at www.dennymikes.com and at specialty retailers throughout the Northeast and North Atlantic states and is newly available in the Mid Atlantic states and throughout the West Coast.

About the NBBQA

Founded in 1991, the National Barbecue Association (NBBQA) is dedicated to bringing barbecue enthusiasts together and supporting the barbecue industry. NBBQA’S goals are to promote the recognition and image of the industry, facilitate effective networking of industry resources, foster new business opportunities for its members, and educate and inform the public about the art and enjoyment of barbecue. For more information, visit www.nbbqa.org. Each year, hundreds of barbecue professionals and enthusiasts from all over the country celebrate the great American tradition of barbecue at the four-day NBBQA Conference, which features education, professional support and entertainment.

Award List

1st Place Sublime Swine for All Purpose Rub

1st Place Fintastic for Mediterranean Herb Rub

1st Place Best Label for Chick Magnet

2nd Place Cow Bell Hell for Cajun Rub

2nd Place Wooden Crate 9 Pack Gift Set

3rd Place Hat & ‘Cue Gift Set

4th Place Chick Magnet for Southwest Rub

4th Place Carolina-Style for Vinegar Spicy Sauce

4th Place Mesquit-O Madness for Tomato Mild Sauce

5th Place Pixie Dust for Southwest Rub

5th Place Smoker Box Gift Set

To schedule an interview with DennyMike Sherman, or request additional background information or product images, contact: Ann Ewing at 615-419-3753 or ann.ewing@hotmail.com.