Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam McCoy.
Hi Adam, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Unkie’s Seasoning really started with two things that have always been a big part of my life: the firehouse and cooking.
I’ve spent more than 20 years in the fire service, and if you know anything about firehouse culture, you know the kitchen table is a big deal. Some of the best conversations, laughs, and memories happen around that table, and cooking for the crew is part of that experience. Over the years, I started making my own seasoning blends because I wanted something that tasted great without having to use half the spice cabinet.
In 2020, I decided to take that passion and turn it into something more, and Unkie’s Seasoning was born. The name “Unkie” came naturally because that’s what I’m known as, and I wanted the company to feel the same way—personal, approachable, and like something you’d share with family and friends.
What started small has continued to grow one bottle, one customer, and one relationship at a time. We’ve expanded our lineup, gotten our products into retail stores, attended fire service events and markets, collaborated with other small businesses, and shipped seasoning to customers well beyond our local community. Along the way, we’ve even had our products recognized in competitions, which is pretty incredible considering where this all started.
One thing I’m especially proud of is that we haven’t lost sight of what Unkie’s is supposed to be. I want to make seasonings that people actually reach for when they cook. Whether they’re cooking dinner for their family, feeding a firehouse crew, or firing up the smoker on a Saturday afternoon. We focus on big flavor, simple ingredients, and blends that are easy to use.
Today, we’re continuing to grow Unkie’s Seasoning with our Signature Blends while developing new areas like Specialty Salts and BBQ Rubs & Blends. I’m constantly experimenting, cooking, listening to customers, and thinking about what comes next.
It’s definitely been a learning experience. I’m a firefighter who decided to build a seasoning company. I didn’t start out knowing everything about manufacturing, packaging, retail, marketing, or running a food business. A lot of it has been learning as I go, making mistakes, adjusting, and continuing to show up.
At the end of the day, Unkie’s Seasoning is still built around the same idea it started with: good food brings people together. That’s why “From the Firehouse to Your House” means so much to me. It isn’t just a tagline—it really is the story of how we got here.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but I don’t think I’d change that because a lot of the struggles have helped shape both me and the business.
When I started Unkie’s Seasoning in 2020, I was a firefighter who loved cooking and had an idea. I wasn’t a food manufacturer, marketing expert, salesperson, graphic designer, or accountant. I had to learn almost every part of running a business as I went. There have been plenty of mistakes, ideas that didn’t work, money spent in the wrong places, and moments where I wondered if I was doing the right thing.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to grow without losing what made Unkie’s special in the first place. There’s a huge difference between making a seasoning you love and turning it into a consistent product that can be produced, packaged, shipped, put on a retail shelf, and still meet your standards every single time. As we’ve grown, I’ve had to learn about manufacturing, packaging, inventory, wholesale, pricing, and all the little details customers never see.
There’s also the challenge of balancing everything. I’m still a full-time firefighter, a husband and father, and I have other projects and responsibilities outside of Unkie’s. There are only so many hours in a day, and learning when to push harder and when to slow down has been an ongoing lesson.
Probably the hardest struggle, though, has been learning not to measure our success against somebody else’s business. It’s easy with social media to look at another company and think they’re growing faster or doing better. I’ve learned to focus on our own lane. If we’re making a great product, taking care of our customers, building genuine relationships, and moving forward from where we were yesterday, then we’re succeeding.
There have absolutely been setbacks, but every one of them has taught me something. I’ve learned to adapt, ask questions, surround myself with good people, and keep showing up.
I’m still learning today, and I think that’s important. Unkie’s Seasoning isn’t a finished story. We’re still building it.
We’ve been impressed with Unkie’s Seasoning, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Unkie’s Seasoning is a firefighter-owned seasoning company built around a simple belief: good food doesn’t have to be complicated. Our goal is to create flavorful, versatile blends that make it easier for everyday people to cook great food at home.
We specialize in small-batch seasonings designed to work across a variety of foods rather than being limited to one specific recipe. Our Signature Blends include everything from our salt-free Garlic & Herb to Coastal Cajun, Chipotle, Savory Garlic, Elizabeth’s Salt, and our best-selling Buttery Rosemary, also known as “The Fire Marshal.” As we continue to grow, we’re also developing our Specialty Salts and BBQ Rubs & Blends, allowing us to explore new flavors while keeping our core lineup focused on everyday cooking.
What sets Unkie’s apart is the thought behind what goes into the bottle—and what doesn’t. We focus on big flavor without relying on unnecessary fillers, MSG, or seed oils, and we offer options for customers looking to control their sodium intake. I want customers to be able to read the ingredients and understand what they’re putting on their food.
I also think our connection to the fire service makes the brand different. The firehouse kitchen is where I learned that food is about much more than eating. It’s where people come together, talk about their day, laugh, solve problems, and take care of one another. That sense of community is built into the DNA of Unkie’s Seasoning.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve been able to grow without trying to become something we’re not. We’ve earned recognition in seasoning competitions, built relationships with retailers and other small businesses, and developed an incredibly loyal customer base, but I can still have a conversation with someone at an event and tell them exactly why a particular blend was created and how I like to use it.
At the end of the day, I don’t want Unkie’s to just be another bottle sitting in someone’s spice cabinet. I want it to be the bottle they reach for.
That’s what “Firehouse Tested. Firehouse Approved.” and “From the Firehouse to Your House” represent. We’re taking the flavors, fellowship, and love of cooking that you find around the firehouse kitchen table and sharing them with everyone.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
It’s hard to narrow it down to one specific memory, but some of my favorite childhood memories revolve around growing up in a fire service family. My dad was a firefighter, my uncle was a firefighter, and eventually my brother and I followed that same path.
As a kid, there was just something special about being around the firehouse—the trucks, the people, the stories, and the sense of family that came with it. At the time, I probably didn’t realize how much those experiences were shaping who I would eventually become.
Looking back now, those memories mean even more because the fire service became such a huge part of my own life. I’ve spent more than 20 years in the fire service, and so much of what I value today—family, service, loyalty, hard work, and taking care of the people around you—can be traced back to those early experiences.
There’s something pretty special about realizing that the things you looked up to as a kid eventually became part of your own story.
Pricing:
- Unkie’s Seasoning offers individual seasoning bottles, sampler options, and build-your-own bundles.
- Customers can save when purchasing three or more seasonings through our Create Your Own Bundle option.
- Wholesale opportunities are available for retailers interested in carrying Unkie’s Seasoning.
- Current products, pricing, bundles, and availability can be found at UnkiesSeasoning.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://UnkiesSeasoning.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unkies_seasoning
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnkiesSeasoning/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammccoyva
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unkies_seasoning
- Other: https://linktr.ee/unkiesseasoning1
