Inspired by the flavors of the Piedmont region of North Carolina, Piedmont BBQ Co. is known for its mouthwatering pulled pork but along the way, they’ve added much more to their offering.. Other features include beef barbacoa, buttermilk-brined smoked chicken, hearty Brunswick stew, ground beef chili, 3-bean vegan chili, potato salad, red slaw, Carolina-style barbecue sauces, versatile rubs and more. Piedmont BBQ Co. takes pride in sourcing it's proteins from the region and all of it's chicken from Wayne Farms, an all-natural Georgia producer.
How We Got Started
Piedmont BBQ Co. launched in 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia by Owner Brad Coolidge. The concept was originally evoked from Coolidge’s love of Carolina barbecue, hence the name.
In 2020, he officially found a home in a brand new commercial kitchen at PREP Atlanta. As the company evolved, the concept of convenient meal solutions shipped directly to your door prompted Coolidge to expand his offerings to more than just barbecue.
In early 2022, Brad launched e-commerce to ship their variety of products nationwide, with monthly subscriptions also available.
Where You Can Purchase In-Person
Piedmont BBQ Co. products can also be found at many Georgia retailers, online retailers and in-person farmers markets.
Retailers include Midtown Butcher Shoppe, Candler Park Market, Lucy’s Market, The Stout Brothers Woodstock Beer Market. In addition to this site, online products are also featured at Fresh Harvest and Market Wagon.
In-person markets include Brookhaven Farmers Market, Peachtree Farmers Market, Dunwoody Farmers Market, Alpharetta Farmers Market, Decatur Farmers Market, Grant Park Farmers Market, Avondale Estates Farmers Market, and Woodstock Farmers Market.
We're excited to be working on a wholesale BBQ model with venues as well. Find us Jasper's Cairn View Winery and Lakepoint Sports in Emerson/Cartersville.
Atlanta food photography provided by GrubFreaks.
Brad Coolidge - Founder
Brad Coolidge grew up in Greensboro, NC and graduated from Western Carolina University in 2005 with a degree in Industrial Distribution. His career began in Lexington as an Operations Supervisor at JELD-WEN for six years, but his love of barbecue and passion for cooking started during his youth.
As a NC-native, Brad frequented Greensboro BBQ staples like Country BBQ and Stamey’s. Later, while working in Lexington, Brad also became a “regular” at local barbecue spots like Lexington BBQ (known by the locals as the “Honeymonk” or “The Monk) where he discovered his true inspiration of the Piedmont region of Carolina-style barbecue.
He began smoking his own meat when he’d meet up with a college buddy at Badin Lake in the Uwharrie National Forest, NC. Brad continued to smoke barbecue for several years, while perfecting the authentic Piedmont flavor of Carolina pork and sauces. He also began to smoke other meats, create savory soups and chilis, southern-inspired dishes and the perfect sides to complement any BBQ favorite.
In 2011, Brad moved to Atlanta for work where he was determined to find a barbecue restaurant that offered the Carolina flavor that he craved. He realized quickly that there was a big opportunity to bring top-notch Piedmont style barbecue to Atlanta.
Brad launched his own barbecue kitchen, Piedmont BBQ Co., in 2015 with the mission to spread his love of Carolina barbecue all over town. He began catering many corporate events, weddings, and even backyard barbecues, and had personal gratification when someone experienced his hometown barbecue for the first time.
As a father of four children under six years, Brad took a small hiatus when his first two children were born. During that busy time, he realized how much easier life could be if he started creating already cooked, frozen selections that could be ready in 15 minutes.
In 2020, he relaunched Piedmont BBQ Co. and officially found a home in a brand new commercial kitchen at PREP Atlanta. He re-explored some of the meals he created during his hiatus and decided to expand his products to more meats, soups and sides that could easily be reheated, proving out the concept via weekends at farmers markets throughout GA. They enjoyed introducing Georgians to Carolina barbecue and their other meats, chilis, soups and sides that were quickly becoming just as popular as their signature Carolina pulled pork.
In early 2022, Brad realized that his business was so much more than just barbecue and the need for convenient meals that could be shipped directly to your door was imperative, so the menu has expanded to offer a wider selection of delicious, heat and eat options for busy folks. The company ships anywhere in the contintental US.
Based on demand, Piedmont now also has a wholesale bbq channel, powering independent grocers, venues and most recently, K-12 school nutrition.
Piedmont BBQ Co. continues to be known for its locally-sourced, Carolina-style pulled pork and coincidentally, its vegan lentil stew that has become a vegan-lovers dream.
In his very little spare time, Brad enjoys wrestling matches with his kids, beach volleyball and hiking. In 2013, he hiked 250 miles of the Camino de Santiago and still dreams about opening a BBQ shack in a small town along the trail.
Chandler Cottingham - General Manager
Chandler Cottingham grew up in Marietta, GA, and entered the hospitality industry at a
young age, working in restaurants and food service operations through high school and college.
After college, Chandler pursued his passion for the industry, working at Muss and
Turner’s under Chef Ryan Hidinger and Todd Mussman. Working his way up the ranks
to Executive Sous Chef from 2009 to 2015. Then joined various Chef’s as an Executive
Sous Chef in opening various concepts in the Old Fourth Ward and Inman Park
neighborhoods, before becoming a partner/Executive Chef at, A Mano, an Italian bistro
concept in the same neighborhood.
At the outset of the pandemic, Chandler became a silent investor and consultant for
various concepts in the Atlanta area before joining the Piedmont BBQ Co. team.
