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Edgewood graduate’s beer cheese product adds flavor to local shelves

Randall Mitchell, a 1989 Edgewood High School graduate, is the co-founder of Smoky Mountain Beer Cheese, which retails for $3.99. The product can be found in nearly 4,000 grocery stores including 900 Kroger locations that started stocking the product last week.

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By Eric Schwartzberg, Staff Writer Updated 3:59 PM Sunday, February 12, 2012

For Randall Mitchell, a weekend excursion was a date with destiny.

The 1989 Edgewood High School graduate was camping in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with friend Steve Koplow and family when he offered up some of his homemade beer cheese and crackers. Koplow gave it a try and was instantly hooked.

“He said, ‘This stuff’s great. I’ll help you out financially if you get this going to market,’ and that was the beginning of our venture,” Mitchell said.

Smoky Mountain Beer Cheese initially produced 600 tubs of product a day by hand. Now, a custom-built, state-of-the art machine produces up to 60,000 tubs daily.

The product, which started out in 13 Food City stores in September 2010, now retails for $3.99 or less in nearly 4,000 grocery stores east of the Mississippi River including 900 Kroger locations that started stocking the product last week, Mitchell said.

The former cabin builder whipped up his first batch of beer cheese 20 years ago while serving in the Navy.

Mitchell, whose hand was crushed during Operation Desert Storm, said being classified as a service-disabled, veteran-owned business helped but it was still “one of the most difficult challenges” because of being a new product.

“We’re in the hardest section there is to get into in a grocery chain, the dairy section, and it’s even harder to keep it there,” he said. “It’s the highest volume area. If you don’t meet the required sales numbers, you lose your spot.”

Even during the numerous surgeries for war injuries that Mitchell endured, his laptop and cellphone weren’t far from his side.

“I got off the phone with one and I picked up the phone to call another one,” he said. “That was something that was taught to me in the military: You don’t give up, you don’t quit.

“I knew I had a good product and I was going to do whatever it took to get it established.”

Smoky Mountain Beer Cheese may be used as a spread, dip or condiment for a variety of food items. “It’s only 35 calories a serving and just one carb,” Mitchell said. “Mayonnaise has about 90 calories and about two carbs.”

The company plans to introduce chipotle and jalapeño flavors on March 1.

Norma and Walter “Bit” McCarty of Liberty Twp. said they couldn’t be happier with their son’s success.

“We’re just thrilled to death with him,” Norma McCarty said. “He’s worked hard to get where he’s at. It’s been a struggle but it’s paying off now.”

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