An Evening With! Lecture Series: History of Food Brands Founded in DFW!

An Evening With! Lecture Series is excited to speak to two iconic multigenerational food brands founded in Dallas-Fort Worth for a lecture about the history of these successful companies.

THE FLETCHER’S STORY: We like to think that you can credit America’s obsession with fried foods, in part, to brothers Neil & Carl Fletcher. Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, the famous meal on a stick, was invented and debuted at the 1942 State Fair of Texas. The Fletchers began selling their corny dogs for 15 cents apiece at the State Fair of Texas in 1942, but the response was decidedly restrained. In fact, the brothers had to cut them in half and give away samples before people were willing to try it. It took 12 years before they felt their unique batter was perfected and since then, it’s never changed. The secret to the famous Fletcher’s Corny Dogs isn’t just the batter, it is also in the water temperature and how the batter is mixed. And that’s all we are going to say about that… Since the passing of the Skip Fletcher in 2017, the company is owned and operated by Skip’s wife GG of 40 years, his two children Aaron and Amber, his brother Bill Fletcher and son W.C. with wife Rebecca. Many children, cousins, and grandchildren work the concessions trailers keeping the tradition alive. In 2019, the company acquired new mobile food trailers which now give Fletcher’s the ability to appear at festivals outside of the State Fair of Texas

THE RENFRO’S STORY: In 1940, with the Depression still a vivid memory, George Renfro took a big risk for a man with a family. He quit his job selling restaurant supplies and condiments. And with little more than sheer determination and the support of his family, George and his wife, Arthurine, co-founded George Renfro Food Company in the garage of their north Fort Worth home. In their new venture, they distributed packaged spices and pepper sauces throughout Fort Worth and the surrounding areas.With hard work, George Renfro Food Company grew steadily. In the ensuing years, the company continued to receive numerous business and product awards and expanded its international distribution.Today, George and Arthurine’s family – sons Jack and Bill, who now consult, and grandchildren Doug, Becky and James, who continue to run the company, have grown the Mrs. Renfro’s brand to include more than 30 salsas, peppers, relishes, and sauces, which are available in all 50 states, as well as in Canada, the Caribbean, England, Scotland, Germany, Spain, and Australia.