MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. — What began as a small-town solution to a farming problem in Eastern North Carolina has grown into a national household name. As it enters 2026, Mt. Olive Pickle Company is celebrating its 100th anniversary, marking a century of service to farmers, employees, customers, and the community it proudly calls home.
The story began on January 2, 1926, when 13 local business leaders gathered in S.L. Warren’s office with a shared goal: create a market for surplus cucumbers grown by area farmers. Pooling their resources, they invested in a modest 3,600-square-foot building, purchased one acre of land for $1,000, and launched what they called a “community proposition.” They named the company after their hometown, believing that if the pickle company succeeded, Mount Olive would succeed alongside it.
From those humble beginnings—where pickles were packed by hand, sometimes using coffee pots to pour syrup—Mt. Olive Pickle Company steadily grew. Today, the company operates across 1.6 million square feet on 250 acres, maintains a tank yard capable of holding more than 40 million pounds of cucumbers, and employs more than 1,300 “Pickle People.” Mt. Olive products are now sold in all 50 states, earning the title of America’s No. 1 best-selling brand of pickles, peppers, and relishes.
“For 100 years, this company has been rooted in service—to farmers, to employees, to customers, and to our community,” said Greg Smith, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to those same values as we look ahead to the next century.”
Throughout its history, Mt. Olive has been known for innovation and people-first practices. The company introduced one of the nation’s earliest employee profit-sharing plans in 1943 and established its Employees Community Fund in 1959, which has since donated millions to nonprofits. Research conducted at Mt. Olive in the mid-20th century also helped modernize fermentation and pickling methods industry-wide.
As part of its centennial celebration, Mt. Olive has unveiled Majestic Picklery, a new gourmet line of artisanal pickled products, offering elevated flavors and premium ingredients while honoring nearly a century of pickling expertise. The company has also expanded its product offerings with new Pickled Onion varieties and announced the upcoming launch of Clearly Pickles in 2026—a clean-label line featuring no artificial colors or additives.
Community investment remains central to the company’s mission. In 2025 alone, Mt. Olive contributed $1.6 million in charitable cash and product donations, supporting organizations such as the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, United Way of Wayne County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, and the University of Mount Olive.
Centennial celebrations are continuing into the new year, highlighted by the debut of a new Centennial Pickle at the annual New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop, as well as the opening of the Mt. Olive Pickle Parlor in downtown Mount Olive—a space celebrating the company’s history with tastings, memorabilia, and pickle-themed merchandise.
From its roots at the “Corner of Cucumber & Vine” to its place on grocery shelves nationwide, Mt. Olive Pickle Company enters its second century guided by the same principles that launched it in 1926: make a quality product, deliver great customer service, and remain a progressive, people-first employer.
