Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, is entering the world of  competitive barbecue.

Tyson is partnering with a group of well-known pitmasters who will compete in top barbecue events around the country, including the Memphis in May International Festival and the American Royal World Series of Barbecue, using products from the Tyson Fresh Meats portfolio of brands.

Barbecue legends Tuffy Stone, Sterling “Big Poppa” Ball, Fred Robles, Tim Scheer and Justin McGlaun make up the Tyson team. 

“Barbecue has long been one of America’s favorite pastimes because it is uniquely universally loved,” says Ozlem Worpel, senior brand manager for Tyson Fresh Meats. “We’re thrilled to partner with these talented pitmasters who can draw on their deep expertise to showcase our breadth of high-quality products paired with America’s favorite flavors.”

Barbecue is seeing tremendous growth as its popularity continues to rise – both on the barbecue circuit and in backyards across America, Worpel adds. Tyson Fresh Meats, she says, hopes to capitalize on the category’s popularity through the partnership, ultimately driving barbecue sales across retail and foodservice.