RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the NC Chamber announced the 88 products competing in its seventh annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” competition. Presented by Allegacy Financial, the public contest celebrates North Carolina’s innovative manufacturing industry, which accounts for 15% of the state’s GDP and employs more than 8.9% of the state’s workforce.

Voting is now open at coolestthingmadeinnc.com, and the public can vote once per day through Wednesday, Sept. 2. 

The contest recognizes three winners based on company size: one for businesses with fewer than 100 employees, one for businesses with 100 to 999 employees, and one for businesses with 1,000 or more employees.

“North Carolina is home to an incredible manufacturing community, producing everything from household favorites to products powering critical industries,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary J. Salamido. “The Coolest Thing Made in NC contest celebrates the ingenuity of the companies and people who make those products possible while showcasing the tremendous impact manufacturing has on our economy, our communities, and career opportunities across the state.” 

The NC Chamber launched the Coolest Thing Made in NC competition in 2020 to celebrate North Carolina’s vibrant manufacturing community and raise awareness of the rewarding careers available in modern manufacturing. Last year, after three rounds of public voting, Siemens Mobility Passenger Coaches for Amtrak, World Cat Boats’ Powered Catamaran Boats, and Ordway Glass Company’s Custom Stained Glass earned the top spots. 

Voting in the first round is open through Wednesday, Sept. 2. The semifinalists in each category will be announced live on YouTube on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The field will narrow with each round of public voting, and the three winning products will be revealed Thursday, Oct. 1, the day before National Manufacturing Day. 

Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC. In addition to receiving a trophy, the winning companies and products will be featured in NC Chamber and Business North Carolina publications, podcasts, social and digital media, and other statewide publicity efforts.   

 

The Coolest Thing Made in NC Contestants

Small Businesses 

COMPANY	PRODUCT	REGION
Internally Malicious Peppers (IMP), LLC	Devil’s Master	Triangle
Sparta Candle Co.	Carolina Soap	Western NC
Lynx Defense	Pistol Range Bag	Triangle
Robert Rust Foods	Sausage Breakfast Burrito	Western NC
Burrito Brands Incorporated	5-Foot Leaf Burrito	Western NC
Unplugged Arcade	Baseball Shuffle	Triangle
Asheville Music Tools	ACV-1 Chorus/Vibrato Time Warping Device	Western NC
Tree Enterprises	Vinyl Play Mats & Reading Pillows	Triad
Tri-Hishtil, LLC	Grafted Watermelon Plants	Western NC
Spark Robotic	LZR-51 Fiber Laser	Western NC
Citizen Vinyl	Del McCoury Band – Del and the Boys (25th Anniversary)	Western NC
Atlantic Beach Sea Salt Company	Atlantic Beach Sea Salt	Eastern NC
CW Dressings	Date Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing & Marinade	Sandhills
Dampp-Chaser	Piano Life Saver	Western NC
SPEVCO	Freedom 250 Truck	Triad
Waynesville Soda Jerks	Apple Rosemary Soda	Western NC
Chemring Sensors and Electronic Systems	ATHINA DC200	Charlotte Region
Alumadock Marine Structures	Alumadock X9® Dock System	Triangle
Carolina Growler Inc.	Huntmaster	Sandhills
Tideline Boats, Inc.	Tideline Boats	Eastern NC
Pisgah Banjo Company	Open Back Banjos	Western NC
Andrew Pearson Glass	Spiral Table	Western NC
Veloce Planes	Veloce Aircraft Kit	Eastern NC
Bone Suckin’ Sauce	Bone Suckin’ Sauce	Triangle
Cullowheegee Farms	Non-Toxic Bug Repellent Lotion Bar	Western NC
Old School Mill, Inc.	Old School Brand Hot Cocoa Mix	Charlotte Region
Carolina Ice Company, Inc.	Chilly Water	Eastern NC
LipLidz	LipLidz Wine Glass	Triad
Doodlations Coffee Bar & Boutique	Hand-Marbled Concrete Vessel Candle	Triad
Room Candle Co.	Fig & Sprig Candle	Triangle
KLG Candies, LLC	Griff’s Coffee Toffee	Triangle
Tiny Hands Pottery	Blue Ridge Mountain Straw Travel Cup	Western NC
Piedmont Agrarian Collaborative	Blueberry Gelato	Triad
GNT USA, LLC	EXBERRY Plant Based Food Colors	Charlotte Region
The Old 97 Kettlecorn Company	Cheerwine Kettlecorn	Charlotte Region
Moore Dumplings, LLC	Moore Dumplings	Sandhills
Parameter Generation & Control	Environmental Conditioning Systems	Western NC
Mayo Mills	NC State Flag Quarter Crew Sock	Eastern NC
Plantd	Plantd Structural Panel	Triangle
Tree Time	Cardamom Chill Berry – THC Seltzer	Triangle
Genesis Handboards, Inc.	AAA Maple Complete	Western NC
Raleigh 3D Design	The Giant Ryan Trahan Penny 3 Feet Diameter	Triangle
Bragging Rooster Beer and Mead	Bragging Rooster beer, mead, and hard cider	Triangle
Station 1978 Firehouse Peanuts LLC	Amy Lou’s All Natural Mayberry Peanut Butter	Triad
Bertie County Peanuts	Weeping Mary’s Ghost Pepper Peanuts	Eastern NC
Tobacco Road Redeemed, Inc.	Engraved 1800s Heart-pine Tray	Triangle
Oak City Customs	Double Waterfall Maple Burl Table	Triangle
Koolbridge Energy	Koolbridge Smart Load Center	Eastern NC
Cashion Fishing Rods	American-Made Fishing Rods and Fishing Rod Blanks	Triangle
Spice Witch	Black Garlic Chili Crisp	Western NC
Old Town Soap Co.	Aromatherapy Shower Bombs	Charlotte Region
River Island Apothecary, LLC	Archetype Anointing Oils	Western NC
Vulcan Elements	Rare Earth Magnets	Triangle
Stormberg Foods LLC	Brooklyn Biltong Naked Steak Slices	Western NC
LazerEdge, LLC.	North Carolina A&T Skyline Medium Cherry Wall Hanging	Triad
Ventures Food & Beverage	Nature’s Twist Sugar-Free Lemonades (Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Orangeade, Twist-sicle)	Triangle
Yeadon Fabric Domes, LLC	Air Supported Structures – Seasonal and Year-round – Design, Manufacturing, Installation and Service	Sandhills
Council Tool Company	Scout Hatchet	Eastern NC
FAADOO	Hot Sauce and Hot and Sweet Sauce	Triangle
Hot Glass Alley, LLC	Mica Functional & Decorative Art Glass	Charlotte Region
Simplifyber Inc.	Crush	Triangle
Todd Barr	Fishing Hold	Triad
FireLight Book & Candle	Stardust Soy Candle	Western NC
Deltec Homes	Deltec Homes 360° Signature Collection	Western NC

 

Medium Businesses 

COMPANY	PRODUCT	REGION
Morinaga America Foods, Inc.	HI-CHEW Fantasy Mix	Triad
FilterEasy, LLC	MagicFilter	Eastern NC
Cheerwine/Carolina Beverage Corp	Cheerwine	Charlotte Region
Carolina Packers	Bright Leaf Hot Dogs	Eastern NC
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.	FourTrax Foreman 4×4	Triad
Farm to Feet	Damascus No Fly Zone Light Targeted Cushion	Triad
East Fork	The Mug, Acanthes	Western NC
Grady-White Boats	321 Coastal Explorer	Eastern NC
Bayliss Boatworks	Bayliss Sportfishing Yachts	Eastern NC
Garner Foods	Texas Pete Original Hot Sauce	Triad
Power Curbers	Power Curber 5700-D	Charlotte Region
Rio Tinto	Lithium	Charlotte Region
American Emergency Vehicles	Ambulances	Western NC

 

Large Businesses 

COMPANY	PRODUCT	REGION
Mt. Olive Pickle Company	Pickle Juicers	Eastern NC
NC Sweetpotato Commission	North Carolina Sweetpotatoes	Eastern NC
Shurtape Technologies	T-Rex® Heavy-Duty, Extra-Wide Waterproof & Repair Tape	Western NC
Bobcat Company	PG1140 Portable Generator	Charlotte Region
Butterball, LLC	Butterball Ground Turkey	Eastern NC
Coca-Cola Consolidated	Mini Can	Charlotte Region
Novo Nordisk	Wegovy® pill	Triangle
Mars Snacking	Cheez-It Original Snack Crackers	Triangle
Monarch	Creative Artwork by Adults Living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD)	Charlotte Region
Avient Protective Materials	Dyneema®	Eastern NC
Carrier	Carrier Chillers	Charlotte Region