KD's BBQ Wins Best BBQ Sauce Award In Prestonsburg BBQ Cook Off

Prestonsburg - KD McKee entered the Prestonsburg city cook off and came away a winner with his homemade bbq sauce. KD entered his sauce in the bbq event and believed he had the best sauce. The peoples choice and the judges thought so as well giving him the first place tropy for The Best BBQ Sauce.

KD's BBQ Wins 2nd. Place In the Prestonsburg Grand Master BBQ Cook Off

PRESTONSBURG – It was a down south sort of thing in downtown Prestonsburg this past weekend.

Amid a host of activities that took place near the city stage adjacent to city hall was a barbecue competion. It may have been just as beneficial to those visting the downtown area this weekend as it was for the winners.

Locals in addition to several hopefuls from out of state threw their cooking caps into the ring for the title of “Best BBQ in Eastern Kentucky.”  KD's Homemade BBQ Sauce came in 2nd. place for the Grand Master BBQ Cook Off and First place trophy for the "Best Sauce"

KD's Homemade BBQ Sauce Wins 2009 Microenterprise Business Of The Year Award

West Liberty SBDC aids business of the year

Kevin McKee of Leeco, owner and operator of KD’s Homemade BBQ Sauce, was recently named the 2009 Kentucky Microenterprise Business of the Year. The award was presented during the first annual Partners for Entrepreneurial Advancement in Kentucky (PEAK) conference held June 30 at the Embassy Suites in Lexington.

One of five finalists trying for this award, McKee’s business was honored for its outstanding perseverance and community impact.

What began as making BBQ sauce for family and friends has now become one of his full-time jobs. A friend who owns a store offered to carry his product, so the Lee County native packaged some jars with homemade labels. Quickly, the locals in the surrounding area loved it and told their friends who told their friends and so on and so on.

Beginning in July 2008, KD's dream of manufacturing his product became a reality.

With the assistance of the Morehead State University’s Small Business Development Center in West Liberty, a business plan and projections were created in order to seek lender financing for his business.

The Mountain Association for Community Economic Development (MACED) extended a loan to KD's to help with renovation and start-up costs.  He converted his basement into a commercial kitchen and distribution center.

KD's Homemade BBQ Sauce is a wholesale company with the product being sold at various retail outlets in central and east Kentucky.

The West Liberty SBDC office also was instrumental in assisting the company in participating in the Kentucky Proud initiative for Kentucky-made products, in establishing a Web site, and in referring him to the state procurement office so that his product would be included as a vendor for state agencies.

KD’s Homemade BBQ Sauce has had quite a successful start.  It was served at the Presidential Inaugural Bluegrass Ball in Washington, D.C., in January 2009.  The sauce is now available in nearly 40 locations throughout Kentucky. 

Many of the Kentucky state parks also carry the product.  Additional information is available calling (859) 707-5533 or by visiting www.kdsbbqsauce.com.

Additional information on West Liberty SBDC is available by calling Michael A. Rodriguez, consultant, at (606) 743-4005.