Arkansas family chili brand marks 90 years of tradition
The Korkames continue selling their products using a nearly century-old spice blend and four generations of family leaders in Fort Smith.
FORT SMITH, Ark. — For nearly a century, Famous Chili Co. has been a household name in Arkansas and beyond.
What started as a family recipe has grown into a regional product, with aspirations of reaching national and even global markets. Vice President Joseph Korkames is a fourth-generation member of the family business.
“My great-grandfather and grandmother started Famous Chili Company here in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Back in the early 1900s my family made and sold the chili in Texas, and early in the 1930s came to Arkansas, selling it both in Fort Smith and in Russellville, where they actually had cafes,” Korkames said. “The chili became so famous that we started packaging it up in bricks and selling it to local grocery stores and other areas, basically across the state.”
The company’s distribution methods have evolved significantly. Korkames recounted how, during wartime, the wives of the second generation personally delivered chili to grocery stores by train in coolers.
Today, Famous Chili Co. products are produced with modern automation and are available throughout the Midwest. Their products include three types of chili, taco filling, and sloppy joes available for restaurants and other commercial institutions through the various food service distributors in Arkansas and surrounding states.
Korkames credits their 100-year-old family spice blend, use of whole-muscle beef, and quality control to their success.
He adds that their Famous Chili Co.’s flagship product, Four Star Chili, serves as a versatile base for a variety of dishes. Apart from a bowl of chili, he says it can be used for hot dogs, chili mac, spaghetti red, and even tacos.
Each generation has contributed to the company’s expansion. The second generation, Korkames’ grandfather and great-uncles, helped establish Famous Chili Co. in Oklahoma and Kansas. The third generation, including Korkames’ father and uncle, modernized packaging, increased food service production, and expanded product distribution.
“I stand on the shoulders of giants,” Korkames said. “I’m just so humbled to be a part of this and to have this opportunity.”
Famous Chili Co. has ambitious plans for growth. Korkames hopes to introduce the company’s spice blend as a standalone product and expand into the frozen food market with ready-to-eat chili options.
“Just bringing it all to the national and maybe even the global level, especially the spice blend, which we could more easily export as well. But I’d love for everybody to be able to experience our chili and our chili products,” he said.
To support the company’s expansion, Korkames encourages customers to follow Famous Chili Co. on social media. Korkames said they’d host giveaways, share recipes, and more.