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Private company

Willingham's World Champion BBQ

Logo: Whamco, Inc., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons2

Willingham's World Champion BBQ is an American championship barbecue brand founded in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1983.1 It was founded by John Willingham.1 Its chief executive is Paul T Holden (since 2013).1 It is part of Whamco, Inc.1

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1983Founded1
  • HeadquartersMemphis, United States1
  • Founded inMemphis1
  • Websitewillinghams.com
  • Legal formprivately held company1

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Corporate structure

Willingham's World Champion BBQ is part of a group headed by Whamco, Inc.. 3 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Whamco, Inc. Memphis, United States
    • Willingham's World Champion BBQ Memphis, United States
    • Big Shanty Smokehouse Subsidiary · Georgia, United States
    • CLASSIC MEMPHIS W'HAM SAUCE CHAMPIONSHIP BLEND EST. 1983 WILLINGHAM'S Owned · United States
    • CLASSIC MEMPHIS WILLINGHAM'S W'HAM SEASONING CHAMPIONSHIP BLEND -EST. 1983- Owned · United States
    • W'HAM Owned
    • WILLINGHAM'S Owned · United States

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by John Willingham in 1983, in Memphis.1

Leadership

Who has led Willingham's World Champion BBQ, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chief executive

  1. Paul T Holden2013–now
1990200020102020

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

Owners

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 2013New chief executive Paul T Holden becomes CEO1
  2. 2013Acquired Acquired by Paul T Holden1
  3. 1983Founded Founded in Memphis1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2