Priester's Pecans

RICH HISTORY AND DEEP ROOTS

BY JESSIE SHOOK

Priester’s Pecans’ history dates back to 1935 when Lee C. Priester (L.C.) of Fort Deposit, Alabama, planted the first seed of success when he began shelling pecans for travelers who passed through his Texaco station. “No one is exactly sure when ‘special order number one’ was placed, but a salesman who stopped to buy gasoline asked L.C. for a special favor,” said Thomas Ellis, president and owner of Priester’s Pecans. “He wanted the pecans cracked and shelled, to be picked up on his return from a business trip and L.C., being a good businessman, promised it would be done. He arranged for local la dies to work for him on a contract basis, cracking and shelling pecans – Priester’s Pecan Company started with that first customer’s request!”

Thomas Ellis is the third generation of Priester’s Pecans. It is easy to hear the passion and importance of the Priester’s Pecans’ history as he tells the story of the company. He explained how the pecan business grew for L.C. Priester. As it grew, L.C. realized the need for a financial partner. “He approached his lifelong friend and business associate, Hense Reynolds Ellis, my grandfather,” Thomas added. “Hense owned the oil distributorship that supplied L.C.’s service station and a sawmill, and yes, Hense was delighted to join his friend L.C.” With a simple handshake and an initial loan of $200, Hense became a silent partner in Priester’s Pecan Company.

Thomas Ellis and his wife Melissa, owners of Priester’s Pecans. (Photo Credit: Angela Moore Photography)

As the company continued to grow, more of the Ellis family pitched in. Hense continued his involvement in the business until his death in 1965. L.C. also stayed active in making Priester’s a success until illness forced him into retirement. “The Ellises brought a criti cal increase in manpower, especially during the Christ mas season rush,” Thomas said. “My dad’s brother John and he ran the business as partners until Ned Ellis, my father, eventually bought the entire company and of course kept the recognizable name, Priester’s Pecans.”

The company has now been in business for 87 years. Thomas works alongside his wife Melissa, who serves as not only as co-owner of Priester’s Pecans, but as the secretary, treasurer and office manager. The branches of the family business even extend to their three sons – Tyler, Stinson and Taber. Tyler is the production manager, while his wife Sarah Ellis is the marketing and product development director. Stinson is the vice president and chief operations officer. Grace Ellis, who is the wife of Taber, is the social media director. All play a vital role in the company’s success.

Thomas’ grandchildren can often be found playing in various locations around Priester’s. As the older grandchildren reach their teenage years, they will help with tasks such as filing, sweeping and stacking. “There have been four generations of the Ellis family working in the business,” Thomas said. “And the fifth generation is quickly gearing up to help!”

Candy Kitchen employees working on a favorite summer flavor, Key Lime Pecan Halves.

Thomas began his career at Priester’s the same way as his grandchildren. “Before I became full time in the 1980s, I had already learned most of the jobs around the production areas and particularly enjoyed finding ways to improve production by using the equipment to its fullest,” Thomas added. “I was there even as an eight-year-old sweeping the floors or following the guidance of many long-term employees to learn the business.”

The Priester’s Pecans employees and Lowndes County are also an essential part of the business. “We love this area, and we love the folks who live here –their willingness to work in our business means the world to us,” Thomas said. “We are thrilled to be able to provide nearly 100 jobs to the capable and faithful folks in this area.”

Like the Ellis family, Priester’s employees have generations of family members that have worked for the company. There are employees that have been with Priester’s for over 40 and even 50 years. “These people have built our business, and I hope they will be honored by the younger generations with the respect they deserve,” Thomas said.

Chocolate pecans being prepared for a lucky customer.

The Priester’s Pecans operation has different components that make the company successful. “The original production for Priester’s is the pecan shelling plant located at the site where the first pecans were cracked by Priester’s in the early 1900s,” Thomas said. “This facility has grown to house the main offices, cold storage and shipping departments, including pecan shelling and processing. The only cooking in this facility is the roasting opera tion where not only pecans are cooked, but other nuts such as Alabama-grown peanuts, cashews, macada mias and almonds.”

Most travelers of I-65 will recognize the second building located at Exit 142. This building was originally built in 1978 to improve production and meet growing demand. “The front of the building was the start of the retail store and has become an Alabama hallmark, for which we are grateful. The retail store is owned and operated by my sister, Ellen Burkett,” Thomas added. “The back of this facility is what we call the ‘Candy Kitchen,’ and is where all of our candies and baked goods are made.”

While it took the retail store a while to get going, the additional production space allowed Priester’s to grow and begin to wholesale its gourmet pecan candies and baked goods. “In 1996, this building burned completely and afterward the current building was constructed and the retail store was off to the races,” Thomas said. “That facility has been great for Priester’s and its brand, and the additional production capacity in this state-of-the-art facility has allowed Priester’s to maintain the high food safety standards while again keeping up with the demand for our top-quality products.”

The Ellis family with two long-time employees and pecan divinity experts.

If the history and deep roots haven’t caught your attention, the products speak for themselves. With a list too long to name, Priester’s Pecans has anything from sweet to salty and crunchy to creamy. “Our natural pecans and other nuts offer something for everyone’s diet, while our baked goods and sweets cover everyone’s taste for old-fashioned goodness,” Thomas added.

Priester’s products can not only be purchased in the retail store, but also online and shipped nation wide, to Canada and even to APO addresses for our servicemen and -women. Priester’s also has a fund raising aspect of the business, a corporate gifting program and several gift shops around the state that carry Priester’s products. In short, there is no excuse not to try Priester’s Pecans for yourself – especially now that the holiday season is upon us.

The holidays are a special time at Priester’s. “In the Southeast, pecans are a staple in homes for holiday recipes and the products we make from pecans cover everyone’s favorite holiday flavors,” Thomas said. Not only is it the busiest time of year but it is also when they feature their Holiday Tins. These beautiful tins are great for gift giving and corporate gifting, and house delicious holiday treats from Priester’s.

Employees packaging product from the Candy Kitchen.

When the Ellis family is not at Priester’s, you can find them farming and ranching. Their agriculture resume ranges anywhere from poultry houses and stocker cattle to quarter horse training and production. “As is the case with Priester’s, our affinity for agriculture has been passed down for generations,” Thomas said. “While we do not produce pecans ourselves, Priester’s is an extension of farming as we get to work in production of pecans, an important Southern crop.”

The story of Priester’s Pecans is much more than what can be summed up in an article. The rich history and deep roots in family and Lowndes County is some thing that Thomas Ellis hopes will continue for generations to come. “My hope is that the fourth generation will be very successful taking care of their families, while always finding themselves doing the work that our God has planned for them and the business,” Thomas said. “I am thankful for the example that was set for my family and me by the two generations before us in this business and in life. My wife Melissa and I have tried to set an example of the priorities in our life being that of our Christian faith, family and our community; work comes afterward. We have four fam ily members who are guiding the business directions every day now and we are very thankful to be able to continue to work with them as we see them take the business to the next generation.”

For more information and to try Priester’s Pecans for yourself, visit www.priesters.com.