Argia B. Collins’ entrepreneurial spirit was instilled in him at a young age. The namesake of Argia B. Food Products and the creator of Mumbo Barbecue Sauce knew when he moved from tiny Indianola, Mississippi to the West side of Chicago in the 1950s that he would determine his own destiny. After launching his own barbecue restaurants, Collins developed his signature “Mumbo Sauce” and launched his family-owned enterprise. Now, decades later, his daughter, Allison maintains that legacy as president of Select Brands, LLC. “We worked at our dad’s restaurants, we worked at [the] manufacturing plants,” she explains. “So it’s always been a part of our family.”
Collins has shepherded Select Brands to even more growth, and through successful partnerships. One of the brand’s oldest partnerships is with retail chain Jewel-Osco, a relationship that stretches back four decades. “Jewel Osco happened to be one of the major stores that–even in the 1960s–brought [our] product in for massive distribution in the Chicago region,” Collins shares. Happily, the cooperation between Jewel and Select Brands has been mutually beneficial. “It’s been a long-standing partnership over the years and we’ve been able to grow as Jewel has grown and we’ve been able to take advantage of some very interesting promotional opportunities.”
For Collins, a progressive mindset doesn’t mean disregarding your illustrious history. She embraces her entrepreneurial heritage and works hard to maintain the company’s tradition of excellence. “Our parents always planted the entrepreneurial seed for us,” she shares. “As a second generation entrepreneur, [it’s] about carrying on a family legacy–but also understanding the value of a great product and introducing that product to a new generation.” -todd williams
