Patriot Pickle is taking the US by storm with its fresh, crispy, and sustainable pickle snacks
For more than 15 years, Patriot Pickle (Patriot) has been a leading pickle manufacturer for the food service and retail sectors. With a motto of ‘always fresh, always crisp,’ the business strives to provide the freshest, highest quality pickles to thousands of restaurants, delis, and markets across the US. Having featured Patriot in Food Chain magazine just over two years ago, we’re keen to catch up with President, Bill McEntee, to hear about the company’s latest developments, including its acquisition by H.I.G. Capital (H.I.G.) earlier this year.
Based in Wayne, New Jersey, Patriot boasts a state-of-the-art, 86,000-square-foot facility that is SQF Level 2 and HAACP certified. As an established business-to-business (B2B) supplier of fermented foods, the company is passionate about its partners regardless of whether they are a boutique start-up company or a larger industrial company. Patriot specializes in providing fresh cucumbers, pickling ingredients, and packaging solutions, as well as private labeling for customers wanting to extend their brand recognition.
As an all-American pickle company, Patriot offers a wide, mouth-watering selection of pickles that can be enjoyed in a sandwich, on the side, or even on their own. From the classic kosher dill to sweet alternatives, Patriot has something for everyone. Its half or full sour pickles are cured in salted brine and flavored with fresh garlic and spices to provide a salty crunch, while its red-hot pickles infused with chili peppers promise to set tastebuds aflame.
With a sweet base and a pungent kick of fresh horseradish, Patriot’s popular sweet horseradish crisps offer a sharp, flavorful punch. Similarly, its sweet, candied chips are soaked in a sweeter brine and provide a snappy, light crunch reminiscent of classic bread and butter pickles.
Aside from classic cucumbers, Patriot also produces barrel-cured sauerkraut, which is finely cut raw cabbage that has been fermented to create its distinctive sour taste. Pickled green tomatoes, which are aged in salted vinegar and infused with garlic, dill, and natural spices, are also on offer.
Product portfolio
Patriot is also the parent company to a number of exceptional pickle brands: K&Z Pickles, Regal Grown Foods, Natural Harvest, Pickleade, Crisp, Farm Ridge Foods, and First Place Foods. While some of these brands are traditional pickle icons, others offer alternative solutions. Natural Harvest specializes in crafting healthy, low-sodium, and gourmet pickles using the finest ingredients and handpicked cucumbers. Pickleade, on the other hand, uses excess brine as a traditional remedy for replacing electrolytes to aid hydration and muscle cramps.
First Place Foods and Crisp are the most recent additions to Patriot’s portfolio. “The acquisition of Texas-based First Place Foods has enabled us to expand our footprint across the US to better serve national chain restaurants, retailers, and industrial customers,” Bill says. “Crisp is our ‘grab and go’ offering of single-serve pickles for mess-free snacking. These products are barrel cured without brine and are both vegan and gluten-free. Their individual packaging makes them an ideal snack for lunchboxes, picnic baskets, or simply your pocket. Crisp products come in three-ounce packages with four available flavors: The ‘OG,’ Sweetness, Straight Fire, and Slow Burn.”
Having been acquired by H.I.G. in January 2024, the leading global investment firm has worked closely with Patriot’s management team to accelerate its growth trajectory. Part of this plan has seen Patriot invest in a new facility. “We’ve invested close to $11 million to build a new, 70,000-square-foot facility in Garland, Texas, which became fully operational in September 2024,” Bill explains.
In a recent press release on the new facility, Patriot’s CEO, Adam Ricci, commented: “The opening of a new production facility in Garland is a major step forward for
Patriot. On top of what this means for our company and customers, we’re eager to work with the Garland community as we invest in and grow the local economy. Our ability to open this facility is a testament to the strength of our product, the support we’ve received from loyal customers, and the partnership we’ve built with H.I.G. Capital.”
Going green
When it comes to sustainability, Patriot effectively balances traditional values with contemporary practices to ensure it is positively contributing to the food service industry and the wider global food community in a responsible and sustainable way. The company has adopted the motto of ‘like our pickles, we go green’ to reflect its commitment to sustainable practices.
In terms of packaging, all of Patriot’s cardboard boxes and plastic containers are fully recycled. The company is also streamlining its energy management processes by utilizing LED lighting, as well as collaborating with Green Power Developers to maximize energy savings while minimizing carbon footprint by using solar panels.
Similarly, Patriot is passionate about supporting its people. “The success of our business is all down to our employees,” Bill states. “As the company grows, we continue to invest in talented personnel and promote from within to create opportunities for personal and professional development. Some of our employees have been with the company since our inception in 2004.
“We offer very competitive benefits, including a 401(k) plan, state-of-the-art facilities, a generous vacation allowance, and paid time off (PTO) benefits,” he continues. “We encourage a positive internal culture where people can build genuine working relationships while becoming a key part of an exciting company that is constantly growing.”
As our conversation ends, discussion turns to what’s next for Patriot. “There are numerous exciting plans underway for 2025, but none that can be revealed just yet, so you’ll have to stay tuned for more announcements as we head into the new year,” Bill concludes. “While we don’t have specific goals for the future, we will continue to strive to be the largest, highest-quality pickle company across the US.”