Curley's Famous Barbecue Sauces
Est. 1948 · Winfield, Kansas

Our Story

"From one burger to a legacy"

It started with a single sauce in a small Kansas diner. What Curley and Christa Atwood created in 1948 has never stopped spreading.

Vintage Curley's tradeshow
Vintage 1950s style burger
1948Established
Our Story

Born to Top Burgers.

Transforms Ordinary with Tangy, Smoky Flavor.

Curley Atwood created his hickory sauce way back in 1948 to add a tasty twist to burgers, and the rest is history.

What started as a secret family recipe in a small diner kitchen quickly became a local legend. Folks would drive miles just for a taste of Curley's special blend. Today, we still use the same careful process and high-quality ingredients that Curley insisted on.

75+ Years in the Making

From a Kansas diner in 1948 to store shelves nationwide.

Scroll right to explore the full timeline
1948

A Sauce Is Born

Curley and Christa Atwood open Curley's Inn in Winfield, Kansas, serving legendary burgers with a secret hickory sauce — creating a bold flavor that changed everything.

"From one burger to a legacy"
1949

Word Spreads Fast

The sauce becomes an instant obsession. Christa sees the opportunity and begins hand-jarring Curley's Famous Hickory Sauce right in the inn's kitchen.

"One jar changed everything"
1951

A Legacy Continues

When Curley passes, Christa doesn't just keep the inn running — she ensures every jar carries the same love and quality that built their name.

"Christa's determination never wavered"
1955

Breaking Into Retail

Albertson's Food Market becomes the first retail home for Curley's Famous Hickory Sauce. What once lived only in a small diner is now available in the local grocery store.

"From local favorite to store shelves"
1964

All In on the Sauce

Christa makes a pivotal decision: she closes Curley's Inn to focus entirely on manufacturing and distributing the sauce. The restaurant was never the point — the sauce always was.

"The sauce was always the story"
1974

Passing the Torch

After decades of dedication, Christa sells the hickory sauce formula to the next generation of producers. Now Curley's Famous, the sauce takes flight into a broader market.

"A recipe ready for the world"
1983

Expansion & Evolution

Curley's Famous grows beyond the original recipe. The brand finds its footing under new ownership, proving that great sauce transcends a single family's kitchen — it's timeless.

"Growing stronger with time"
1987

New Flavors, Same Soul

PMS Foods, Inc. brings the sauce to Hutchinson, Kansas. The lineup expands with Smoky, Mesquite, and Spicy varieties — reimagining what Curley's could be.

"Tradition meets innovation"
2008

The CHS Era

CHS, Inc. acquires Curley's Barbecue Sauces, bringing agricultural expertise and expansion to a beloved condiment. The brand enters a new chapter of stability and scale.

"Strengthened by partnership"
2018

Home in Kansas City

Saucemaker Garden Complements takes ownership and moves operations to Kansas City, Missouri. Curley's stays in the heartland, ready to continue the tradition.

"Same great recipes."
Curley's Famous Barbecue SauceRidiculously Tasty Since 1948

At home in Kansas City: The BBQ capital of the world.

While ownership has evolved, the quality of the ingredients remains unchanged. Today, Curley's Famous is handcrafted in Kansas City, Missouri, carrying forward the same love and craft that started in a small Kansas diner back in 1948.

The Curley's Famous crew at the smoker

Make Curley's Famous the hit of your backyard barbecues!