st. louis bbq society
St. Louis BBQ Society is a Missouri-based nonprofit membership organization that sanctions BBQ competitions, certifies judges, and runs charitable programs for barbecue enthusiasts and competition teams in the St. Louis region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersBallwin, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What st. louis bbq society does
The St. Louis BBQ Society (SLBS) is a Missouri-based nonprofit membership organization founded in 2007 by Frank Schmer that sanctions barbecue competitions and trains certified BBQ judges in the St. Louis metropolitan area. It operates three competition tiers — Pro-Series (two-day, four-meat events with overnight prep and large rigs), Backyard Series (one-day, two-meat contests with minimal infrastructure), and Open Series (non-traditional formats such as steak, pork steak, or side-dish contests) — and offers supplementary programs including Team of the Year points tracking, Rookie of the Year, Kids Q, and the Joe Hesse Scholarship. Membership tiers include Standard ($25/year), 5-Year ($100), and Business ($100/year) with two individual memberships bundled plus promotional benefits such as social media features to 8,000+ followers, website advertising, and email campaigns to 500+ members.
Revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions, competition sanctioning fees (including a $50 application fee plus variable fees), a $45 judge certification class, and merchandise sold through an online gear store. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, relying on sanctioned BBQ competitions, judge certification classes, charity cooks, and volunteer-driven fundraising rather than paid marketing. Customer segments span BBQ competition teams and enthusiasts (primary), local BBQ-related businesses seeking promotional reach, and community organizations/charities as beneficiaries of the society's charitable program, which has donated over $30,000 to local causes and supports programs serving 800+ Challenger Baseball players and 10,000–12,000 Thanksgiving meals annually.
The organization is governed by an all-volunteer board of directors led by President David Amelunke and Executive Vice President Dan Murphy, with Frank Schmer serving as President Emeritus. The society has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no patents, no external funding rounds, and operates from a single registered address at 15009 Manchester Road, Suite 159, Ballwin, Missouri. There is no proprietary technology stack; operations rely on a public website, an online membership portal, an e-commerce gear storefront, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, RSS feeds, email newsletter).
st. louis bbq society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- st. louis bbq society
- Legal name
- St. Louis BBQ Society
- Website
- https://stlouisbbqsociety.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- St. Louis BBQ Society is a Missouri-based nonprofit membership organization that sanctions BBQ competitions, certifies judges, and runs charitable programs for barbecue enthusiasts and competition teams in the St. Louis region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
st. louis bbq society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- BBQ Competition Sanctioning and Membership Association Services
- NAICS
- Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations (81393), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)
Keywords
Where st. louis bbq society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ballwin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
st. louis bbq society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to competitions, judge certification, restaurant discounts, and member benefits including free day passes to Restaurant Depot and quarterly membership events.
- Competition Sanctioning: Fees for sanctioning Pro-Series, Backyard Series, and Open Series BBQ competitions. Includes $50 application fee and additional fees based on contest type and attendance.
- Judge Certification: Judge certification classes at $45 per participant, including chicken, ribs, pork, brisket samples and certification materials.
- Gear and Merchandise: Online gear store selling BBQ-related merchandise and equipment through slbs.qbstores.com.
- Business Membership Benefits: Business memberships at $100/year include promotional benefits: social media features to 8,000+ followers, website advertising, email campaigns to 500+ members, and featured articles.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard individual membership for one year with access to competitions, judge certification, and member benefits. |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | 5-year membership commitment at discounted rate. |
| Subscription | Annual | Business membership including two standard memberships and promotional benefits for local businesses. |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full-day judge certification class covering SLBS judging criteria and hands-on practice. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
st. louis bbq society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
St. Louis BBQ Society (SLBS) is a nonprofit membership organization that sanctions BBQ competitions across three tiers (Pro-Series two-day professional contests, Backyard-Series one-day entry contests, and Open-Series for non-traditional categories), certifies BBQ judges through paid classes, and runs community-driven programs such as Team of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and the Joe Hesse Scholarship. The organization sells Standard, 5-Year, and Business memberships and operates an online gear store, while funding charitable initiatives throughout the St. Louis region.
Product overview
The St. Louis BBQ Society offers a membership-based platform with three tiers (Standard, 5-Year, and Business memberships) providing access to sanctioned BBQ competitions, judge certification training, and member benefits. The organization sanctions three types of BBQ competitions: Pro-Series for professional two-day events with four meats, Backyard-Series for entry-level one-day contests, and Open-Series for non-traditional categories. Supporting programs include the Team of the Year points competition, Rookie of the Year program for new teams, and the Joe Hesse Scholarship for member families. The society has grown from 9 teams in its first contest to over 1,030 teams that have competed, with 620+ active members and 500+ trained judges.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Standard Membership Annual individual membership at $25 per year that grants access to compete in SLBS-sanctioned BBQ competitions, become a certified judge, shop at Restaurant Depot with free day passes, attend quarterly membership events, and participate in fundraising events.
- 5-Year Membership Multi-year membership at $100 for 5 years (equivalent to $20/year), providing the same benefits as the Standard Membership at a discounted rate effectively giving one year free.
- Business Membership Annual business membership at $100/year that includes two Standard Membership cards plus promotional benefits: 400x400 front-page graphic on the SLBS website, a dedicated business page, links to the business website, up to 4 specialty posts per month to 8,000+ social followers, weekly featured article/advertisement, up to 4 video posts per 12 months, and one specialty email per year to 500+ members.
- Pro-Series BBQ Competition Sanctioning Sanctioning service for professional two-day BBQ competitions involving four meats (chicken, ribs, pork, brisket), requiring large smokers, trailers, and overnight preparation. Organizers apply with a $50 application fee plus per-event charges.
- Backyard-Series Sanctioning Sanctioning service for one-day backyard BBQ contests with smaller 10x15 sites, two meats (chicken and ribs), and minimal infrastructure requirements, designed for entry-level competitors.
- Open-Series Sanctioning Flexible sanctioning for non-traditional BBQ competitions such as steak contests, pork steak contests, or side-dish competitions, available in 1-day (2 categories) or 2-day (4 categories) formats.
- BBQ Judge Certification Class Full-day training program priced at $45 per person that certifies participants as SLBS BBQ judges, covering judging criteria, scoring methods, ethics, and hands-on practice with chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket samples. Location: Newton American Legion Post #20, 108 E. Jourdan, Newton, IL 62448.
- Team of the Year (TOY) Program Year-long points competition for SLBS members awarding points across five categories (Chicken, Ribs, Pork, Brisket, Overall), with cash prizes and trophies for top finishers awarded at the annual gala banquet.
- Rookie of the Year Program Competitive format for rookie BBQ teams and head cooks to learn and grow in sanctioned competition, with trophies and prize money awarded at the annual gala banquet.
- Joe Hesse Scholarship Financial scholarship awarded to graduating high school seniors and continuing college students related to SLBS members, requiring recipients to perform 10 hours of community service at SLBS events.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $30,000 donated to local charities through SLBS events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use st. louis bbq society
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
st. louis bbq society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
st. louis bbq society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Operation BBQ ReliefcoreNational disaster relief organization founded in May 2011 in response to Joplin, Missouri tornado. Volunteers from competition BBQ teams from eight states helped feed displaced families and emergency personnel, serving 120,000+ meals over 13 days. SLBS actively supports this organization through charitable donations.
- BackstopperscoreOrganization providing financial assistance to spouses and dependent children of police officers, firefighters, and EMTs who have lost their lives or suffered catastrophic injuries since 1959. Currently assists 81 families with 66 dependent children.
- Friends of Kids with CancercoreSt. Louis-based organization founded in 1992 that enriches daily lives of children with cancer through Educational, Emotional and Recreational programs including the Toy Closet at Mercy Clinic.
- March of DimesminorNational organization focused on preventing birth defects and infant mortality through research, newborn screening promotion, and educational initiatives.
- Circle of Concern Food PantrycoreWest St. Louis County food pantry serving approximately 2,000 individuals monthly and more than 1,200 households annually. Also offers financial support, scholarships, job mentoring, children's programs and holiday events.
- Focus MarinescoreSt. Louis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded by Marine Corps veterans in 2010 to help combat wounded Marines and FMF Navy Corpsmen transition from military to civilian lives, addressing PTSD and TBI.
- Toys for TotsminorAnnual toy drive partnership to make Christmas brighter for ill and needy children in the St. Louis region.
- Camp HopeminorCharitable partnership supporting Camp Hope programs.
- Saint Louis Challenger BaseballcoreBaseball league for individuals with developmental disabilities founded in 1994. Currently serves 800+ players across 66 teams in the Bi-State area. Provides uniforms, equipment, and activities for players ages 5-90.
- Shriners Hospital for ChildrenminorPediatric hospital network providing care for children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries, and special healthcare needs without regard to race, color, creed, sex, sect, disability, national origin, or ability to pay.
- Brass Rail RestaurantcoreRestaurant in O'Fallon, MO owned by Scott Ellinger that serves 10,000-12,000 Thanksgiving meals annually to those in need. SLBS provides volunteer cooks and support at their parking lot.
- Crossed Heart BBQ FoundationminorNon-profit employing people of all abilities (including special needs) to prepare and deliver BBQ meals to first responders in St. Charles and St. Louis counties, with outreach to feed hungry community members.
- Friends of Jefferson BarracksminorNon-profit dedicated to preservation and improvement of Jefferson Barracks Park Historic Site in South St. Louis County. Supports park management through volunteer projects and fundraising activities.
- Joe Hesse Scholarship FundminorSLBS scholarship program for graduating high school seniors and continuing college students related to SLBS members. Recipients must perform 10 hours of community service at SLBS events.
- WIL RadiominorRadio partner for annual toy drive events, conducting live broadcasts during donation events.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
st. louis bbq society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Memphis Barbeque Network: Regional BBQ sanctioning organization serving the Memphis/Tennessee area with sanctioned competitions and certified judges. Comparable to SLBS in scope and structure, operating as a regional counterpart in a different BBQ-tradition geography.
- Steak Cookoff Association (SCA): National sanctioning body for steak cookoff competitions with certified judge programs. Directly comparable as a competition sanctioning organization with membership, certification, and tiered contest formats, but in a different meat category than SLBS's primary BBQ focus.
- Kansas City Barbeque Society: The largest and most established national BBQ sanctioning body in the U.S., certifying judges, sanctioning competitions, and awarding Grand Champion points. Directly comparable to SLBS in core function (sanctioning and judging) but operates at national scale with significantly larger membership.
Others
- BBQ Hall of Fame / BBQ Festivals Network: Network and directory of BBQ festivals and competitions across the U.S. Compares to SLBS in being adjacent to the competitive BBQ ecosystem, but functions as an aggregator/directory rather than a sanctioning organization with direct membership.
- Operation BBQ Relief: National nonprofit that mobilizes competitive BBQ teams to provide disaster relief meals. Overlaps with SLBS through its charitable mission and use of competition BBQ talent, but is a disaster-relief operator rather than a sanctioning body — a charitable peer and partnership counterpart.
- Cookshack: Established manufacturer of commercial and competition-grade BBQ smokers used widely by competitive BBQ teams. Comparable ecosystem player to SLBS — both serve the competitive BBQ community — but operates as a for-profit equipment vendor rather than a sanctioning nonprofit.
Regional players
- Iowa BBQ Society: Midwest regional BBQ sanctioning organization offering sanctioned competitions and judge certification across Iowa. Highly comparable operational model to SLBS given proximity and similar Midwestern BBQ enthusiast base, though smaller in scale.
- New England BBQ Society: Regional BBQ sanctioning body serving the New England area with member teams, sanctioned competitions, and certified judges. Directly comparable structure to SLBS but operating in a different geographic market without overlapping event territories.
- Pacific Northwest BBQ Association: Regional BBQ association serving Washington, Oregon, and surrounding states with sanctioned events and a member/judge base. Comparable organization model to SLBS, including multiple competition tiers and judge certification, in a different regional territory.
Broad incumbents
- American Royal Association: Large, established Kansas City-based organization that hosts one of the premier BBQ competitions in the U.S. (the American Royal World Series of Barbecue). Comparable as a BBQ competition organizer, but operates at a much larger scale with a broader portfolio of livestock/agricultural events beyond BBQ.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
st. louis bbq society social profiles
Digital presencest. louis bbq society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
st. louis bbq society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
st. louis bbq society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
st. louis bbq society M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about st. louis bbq society
What does st. louis bbq society do?
St. Louis BBQ Society (SLBS) is a nonprofit membership organization that sanctions BBQ competitions across three tiers (Pro-Series two-day professional contests, Backyard-Series one-day entry contests, and Open-Series for non-traditional categories), certifies BBQ judges through paid classes, and runs community-driven programs such as Team of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and the Joe Hesse Scholarship. The organization sells Standard, 5-Year, and Business memberships and operates an online gear store, while funding charitable initiatives throughout the St. Louis region.
Is st. louis bbq society a public or private company?
st. louis bbq society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was st. louis bbq society founded?
st. louis bbq society was founded in 2007. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is st. louis bbq society based?
st. louis bbq society is headquartered in Ballwin, United States, in the North America region.
How does st. louis bbq society make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are competition Sanctioning, judge Certification, gear and Merchandise and business Membership Benefits.
Who are st. louis bbq society's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Memphis Barbeque Network, Steak Cookoff Association (SCA) and Kansas City Barbeque Society. Others are BBQ Hall of Fame / BBQ Festivals Network, Operation BBQ Relief and Cookshack. Regional players are Iowa BBQ Society, New England BBQ Society and Pacific Northwest BBQ Association. American Royal Association is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does st. louis bbq society have an API?
No public API is recorded for st. louis bbq society.
What industry is st. louis bbq society in?
st. louis bbq society's product category is BBQ Competition Sanctioning and Membership Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKAFAC, National Governing Bodies (NGBs). Its NAICS code is 81393 and its SIC code is 8600.