Carroll's Sausage & Country Store - Smoked Meats for Nearly 30 Years

By Ryan Waldrep, Assistant Director for Entrepreneur and Small Business Development
Small Business Spotlight | Turner County | Region 11

Nestled halfway between Cordele and Tifton lies Ashburn. Known for landmarks such as the Crime and Punishment Museum and the world's largest peanut monument, Ashburn is also home of Carroll's Sausage and Country Store. I visited with Hugh Hardy on a recent Tuesday afternoon. Walking across the parking lot, I immediately realized that I was at a special place. The parking lot was nearly full and the license plates indicated that the visitors on that Tuesday afternoon hailed not only from Georgia, but Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina and Alabama.

The storefront rose adjacent to I-75 and was clad in wood that I later learned was cut and cured right on the property. The front porch draws customers in with rocking chairs that would be at home on Grandma's font porch, locally made bird houses and antique plows that have been acquired from all over Turner County.

Atop the façade of the store, signs proclaimed the goodies that awaited visitors inside: Southern Cookin', Jams & Jellies, Peanut & Pecan Candies and, of course, Country Cured Meats.

Carroll's Sausage was founded in Ashburn in 1988 by Thomas and Ann Carroll and they created the finest, best tasting sausages around. The business grew and customers were delighted by a sausage recipe that had been passed down for generations.

In 2001, Hugh Hardy, Jr., a longtime Carroll's Sausage employee, purchased the business (and the sausage recipe) from the Carroll family. Over time, Carroll's Sausage grew and what began as a small butcher shop became a full-fledged country store.

While the business has certainly grown, our core values have remained the same: to provide the best food while putting a smile on the face of every customer. -Hugh Hardy, Jr., Owner, Carroll's Sausage and Country Store

Carroll's Sausage & Country Store now makes over forty varieties of sausage based on the old family recipe. Their best seller, 'Medium Smoked Link Sausage' won the Flavor of Georgia's People's Choice Award in 2016. Carroll's also makes their own snack sticks and beef jerky available in over seven different flavors in house.

The inside of the store is what you'd hope to find in a well-stocked country store. Walking through the retail space, there were displays of stone ground grits by local FFA chapters, honey, locally pressed oils and more. In the back of the store lies the butcher counter stocked with a wide variety of fresh-cut meats and smoked sausage.

Carroll's Sausage & Country Store also carries an extensive selection of Georgia Grown Products, including jams and jellies, sauces, honey, seasonings and other products. Intermingled with the product displays are reminders of Turner County's rich agriculture heritage. Hand tools, pots, pans, handmade jugs and even Hugh's great-grandfather's mule-drawn plow have each found a home at Carroll's. Even the wood on the inside of the store is a representation of every type of tree that grows in Turner County.

Aside from the Georgia Department of Agricultures' Georgia Grown program, Carroll's Sausage & Country Store participates in Georgia Grown's Trail 41, which highlights agritourism destinations along US Highway 41 from Middle Georgia to the Georgia-Florida State Line.

Hugh also works to promote his retail locations, fresh meat selection and other locally crafted products through his television show, 'Cooking with Hugh' and his cookbook. Because of the popularity of Carroll's sausage and other products, Hugh has had the opportunity to cook for politicians, athletes and music stars.

Because of these marketing efforts and the superb product produced at Carroll's, Hugh has added two additional stores in Albany and Sylvester, creating more than 40 new jobs – representing more than 75 years in the meat industry – in Southwest Georgia. Hugh is also working to sell his products through various wholesalers, so soon you'll be able to buy Carroll's Sausage at a store near you.

Carroll's Sausage & Country Store was founded on the belief that hard work, quality products, and superior service would build success. And after spending some time with Hugh and his team, that is certainly evident.

If you're traveling along I-75 in South Georgia, and enjoy a really good smoked sausage, plan some time to check-out Carroll's Sausage & Country Store. Be sure to try some of my favorites: Mild Smoked Sausage Links, Jalapeno and Cheese Smoked Sausage (if your taste buds are a little more adventurous), and of course, the Medium Smoked Link. Don't forget the Buckboard Bacon. This thick-cut bacon takes 10 days to make and is unlike any I've ever eaten! And if you've got a ways to go before you get home, Carroll's packs for travel!

Interested in learning more about Carroll's Sausage & Country Store, check out them out online or on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Got a Small Business question? Start the conversation! Contact Ryan Waldrep, Assistant Director for Entrepreneur and Small Business Development, at (404) 877-8406 or [email protected].