The Duce Raymond Podcast
Welcome to "The Duce Raymond Podcast"!
Join Duce Raymond, Managing Partner and Director of Culinary for SBR Events Group, as he brings his passion for barbecue and hospitality to the airwaves. Duce, son of Chef Larry Raymond and nephew of Dave Raymond—the creators of Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce—was destined to become a leader in the culinary world. With a rich family heritage and an impressive career, Duce has perfected his craft and earned over 95 local, regional, and national awards for barbecue and catering.
In "The Duce Raymond Podcast," Duce dives deep into the art of barbecue, sharing his expert tips and techniques, but the conversation doesn't stop there. Each episode features insightful discussions on a variety of topics including marketing, social media, lifestyle, fitness, mindset, and business. Whether you're a food enthusiast, an aspiring entrepreneur, or simply looking for inspiration, this podcast is for you.
Duce's engaging and charismatic style, combined with his extensive knowledge and experience, makes for a podcast that is both educational and entertaining. With guests ranging from culinary experts to social media gurus and business leaders, "The Duce Raymond Podcast" provides valuable insights and practical advice for listeners from all walks of life.
Tune in to hear Duce and his guests share their stories, experiences, and tips for success. Whether online or in-person, Duce loves sharing his passion and helping others in the industry. He hopes to bring value to anyone seeking new ideas or insights and looks forward to sharing what he learns as he continues his journey in barbecue and hospitality.
Start mastering the art of barbecue and beyond with Duce Raymond on "The Duce Raymond Podcast"!
The Duce Raymond Podcast
BBQ Sauces, Potato Chips, & More with @lilliesq 's Charlie McKenna
#bbq #podcast #food
In this episode, Duce sits down with Charlie McKenna of Lillie’s Q to dive into the incredible journey of building a national BBQ brand. Charlie shares how he transitioned from cooking competition sauces to bottling regional varieties like Memphis, Carolina, and Alabama styles, and eventually scaled into 15,000+ stores across 20+ countries. He breaks down the business of consumer packaged goods (CPG), including distributor relationships, slim profit margins, and the grind behind growing a successful product line. They also explore how Charlie’s potato chips—born out of a downtown Chicago food stall—found their way into airlines like United, American, and Delta. Hear why chips are a higher-turn product than sauce, what it takes to succeed in the CPG space, and why having a strong team is key to expanding beyond the restaurant. This conversation wraps with stories about Memphis in May, BBQ competitions, and family life. Whether you’re a barbecue enthusiast, a food entrepreneur, or just love a good business story, this one’s packed with real talk and BBQ wisdom.
00:00 – The Southern Roots of Charlie’s BBQ Journey
3:47 – Charlie’s Unexpected Road to BBQ
8:30 – How BBQ Competitions Bonded Charlie and His Dad
15:25 – How a Recession Sparked Lillie’s Q
20:49 – Roux Restaurant & Origins
24:23 – Keeping the Menu Simple
26:05 – Tri-Tip, Brisket & Barbecue Evolution
32:09 – Secrets of BBQ & Smokers & Holding Units
36:51 – Starting the Sauce & Rub Business
39:02 – Scaling with Distribution & Fancy Food Show
41:01 – Building a Consumer Goods Brand
44:03 – The Work Behind the Success
47:50 – Launching the Kettle Chips Line
51:23 – Memphis in May, Community, and Family
Follow Charlie on Social:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_cmckenna_/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilliesQ
X: https://x.com/LilliesQChicago
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lilliesq?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lilliesq/featured
Website: https://charliemckenna.co/
Follow Us on Social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetbabyrayscatering/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetbabyrayscatering
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetbabyrayscatering
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sweet-baby-ray's-catering/?viewAsMember=true
Website: https://www.sweetbabyraysbbq.com/