Nominees announced for The Coolest Thing Made in NC
RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the NC Chamber announced the nominees for its inaugural “Coolest Thing Made in NC” competition. Presented by Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., the statewide online contest celebrates the variety and quality of products manufactured in North Carolina. The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is also collaborating on this initiative as a Supporting Organization.
North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry generates more than 18% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce. As the exclusive North Carolina affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the NC Chamber recognizes that a strong manufacturing industry is central to the state’s economic and competitive success.
“When our lives were brought to a near standstill by COVID-19, manufacturers heroically and swiftly pivoted to produce the personal protective equipment needed by front-line workers, vulnerable populations, medical facilities, and countless businesses in every county,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “Now is the time for North Carolinians to unite in honoring this vital community that has served as the backbone of our state’s economy for more than a century. As we always say at the NC Chamber: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina.”
All are invited to vote for their favorite product at coolestthingmadeinnc.com. Semifinalists will be announced by the NC Chamber and Old Dominion Freight Line September 8 via social media and a top four will be announced in the same fashion September 18. The inaugural winner will be revealed on October 2, which is MFG Day — an annual event organized by the National Association of Manufacturers and The Manufacturing Institute highlighting the rewarding career opportunities of modern manufacturing.
“North Carolina has a rich manufacturing history and it plays an important part in our economy,” said Greg Plemmons, senior vice president of sales for Old Dominion Freight Line of Thomasville, North Carolina. “As a less-than-truckload carrier, we see many unique and innovative products shipped on our trucks. Promoting North Carolina goods and services is a benefit to all residents, so Old Dominion is proud to partner with the NC Chamber in a creative way to showcase the cool things made in our state.”
Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC. In addition to receiving a trophy, the winning company will be featured in various NC Chamber publications and promoted across its communications channels and statewide publicity efforts.
The Nominees for The Coolest Thing Made in NC are (in alphabetical order by manufacturing location):
| Company and Product | Manufacturing Facility Location |
| Clorox Toilet Wand Pad | Asheboro |
| Shibumi Beach Shade | Asheboro; Emerald Isle (originated) |
| Diamond Brand Gear’s Hestia Wall Tent | Asheville |
| Moog One Synthesizer | Asheville |
| Southern Supreme Fruitcakes | Bear Creek |
| Jarrett Bay Boatworks Semiproduction 34 | Beaufort |
| Hospitality Mints | Boone |
| Gulo Composites GME-30 Enduro Wheelset | Brevard |
| SylvanSport GO Camper | Brevard |
| OT Sports Sports Uniform | Burlington |
| TS Designs T-shirts | Burlington |
| Kish Fabrication Custom Titanium Bicycles | Carrboro |
| Kenda Kist Hand-Forged VOTE Necklace | Cary |
| Bojangles Cheddar Bo Biscuit | Charlotte |
| Bojangles Spicy Cajun Fried Chicken | Charlotte |
| Coca-Cola | Charlotte |
| Luwa Airwasher | Charlotte |
| The Rustic Lamp’s Copper Shades and Lamps | Chimney Rock |
| Hydromer First Responder Sanitizer | Concord |
| Big Spoon Roasters Nut Butter | Durham |
| Cree | Wolfspeed’s Silicon Carbide | Durham |
| Freudenberg Performance Materials Face Masks | Durham |
| Y’all Means EVERYONE NC Hearts Bumper Sticker/Magnet by Steven Ray Miller | Durham/King |
| TCOM’s Persistent Surveillance Aerostats | Elizabeth City |
| Hickory Nut Gap Smoked Bacon | Fairview |
| Cane Creek Bicycle Headset | Fletcher/Asheville |
| Tony’s Ice cream Vanilla Milk Shakes | Gastonia |
| Benevolence Farm Chamomile & Lavender Healing Salve | Graham |
| The HondaJet Elite | Greensboro |
| Vick’s Vaporub | Greensboro |
| Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley™ electric bus. | High Point |
| Nugget Kids Couch | Hillsborough |
| Deere Hitachi Excacators | Kernersville |
| Additive America’s Prosthetic Socket | Kinston |
| Spirit AeroSystems Airbus A350 XWB Aircraft Composite Sections | Kinston |
| Piedmont Candy Company’s Peppermint Red Bird Candy Puffs. | Lexington |
| Greiner Bio-One (GBO) Pipettes | Monroe |
| Ludwig Drums | Monroe/Charlotte |
| Farm to Feet Socks | Mt. Airy |
| Mt. Olive Pickles | Mt. Olive |
| Luv N Mountain Soaps by Vera | Murphy |
| Butterfields Peach Buds | Nashville |
| George’s BBQ Sauce | Nashville |
| Bosch Stainless Steel Dishwasher SHX88PZ55N | New Bern |
| Thermador Double Wall Oven PODS302W | New Bern |
| Pepsi | New Bern (originated); Bottled throughout NC |
| Hippie Chick Granola Co.Original Granola | Oak Island |
| American Sprinkle Company Sprinkles | Pineville |
| Javelin Odyssey Skydiving Container | Raeford |
| The Cheesecake Factory Cheesecakes | Rocky Mount |
| FloLogic System | RTP |
| Agility Fuel Solutions ProCab® CNG Fuel Systems | Salisbury |
| Cheerwine | Salisbury |
| Power Curber 5700-Series Slipform Machine | Salisbury |
| Cat® 299D3 XE Compact Track Loader (CTL) | Sanford |
| Thundersticke German Alt Beer | Sanford |
| Precision Time Timekeeper | Shallotte |
| The Heritage Flag Company’s Old Glory Full Barrel | Southern Pines |
| Smithfield Bacon | Tar Heel |
| ProMagnet Mattress and Pillow Pads | Terrell |
| Capel Rugs | Troy |
| Elizabeth’s Pecans | Turkey |
| Allura USA’s Fiber Cement Plank in Traditional Pattern | Wilkesboro |
| Artisan Leaf Handcrafted Tobacco Leaf Tables and Surfaces | Wilson |
| Bertie County Peanuts Sea Salt and Black Pepper Peanuts | Windsor |
| C Change Surgical SurgiSLUSH Medical Freezers | Winston-Salem |
| Chad’s Original Black Chai | Winston-Salem |
| Krispy Kreme Donuts | Winston-Salem |
| SPEVCO’s Be Pro Be Proud Workforce Education Expandable Trailer and Tour | Winston-Salem |
| Texas Pete Hot Sauce | Winston-Salem |
| Ripe Revival Protein Gummies |
About Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc.
Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. is a leading, less-than-truckload (“LTL”), union-free motor carrier providing regional, inter-regional, and national LTL services through a single integrated organization. Our service offerings, which include expedited transportation, are provided through an expansive network of service centers located throughout the continental United States. Through strategic alliances, the Company also provides LTL services throughout North America. In addition to its core LTL services, the Company offers a range of value-added services including container drayage, truckload brokerage, and supply chain consulting.