EVOLUTION

FOUNDER & VISIONARY

Jerry Stephenson has been involved with barbecue for decades. A commercial restaurant builder, world-renowned competition BBQ cook, chef, restaurateur, and father, Jerry’s background reflects a life built around craftsmanship, hard work, and hospitality. Born and raised in eastern North Carolina, Jerry traveled the world competing as part of the Redneck Scientific Competition BBQ Team he founded, becoming a 2-Time World Champion and studying the regional barbecue traditions that shaped culinary cultures around the globe.

Soon thereafter, Jerry began a catering business, transforming his own competition trailer into a commercially licensed mobile kitchen. After years of vending and catering to an established clientele, he took his personal recipes, philosophy, and story into a brick-and-mortar establishment in Johnston County, North Carolina—creating a restaurant group that would go on to earn national recognition. Now, Jerry returns to his roots—to where it all began—to refine his craft, learn from past lessons, and rekindle the original vision that started it all.

That vision is: J. Stephenson Barbecue Company.

EVOLUTION

FOUNDER & VISIONARY

Jerry Stephenson has been involved with barbecue for decades. A commercial restaurant builder, world-renowned competition BBQ cook, chef, restaurateur, and father, Jerry’s background reflects a life built around craftsmanship, hard work, and hospitality. Born and raised in eastern North Carolina, Jerry traveled the world competing as part of the Redneck Scientific Competition BBQ Team and studying the regional barbecue traditions that shaped culinary cultures around the globe.

Soon thereafter, Jerry began a catering business, transforming his own competition trailer into a commercially licensed mobile kitchen. After years of vending and catering to an established clientele, he took his personal recipes, philosophy, and story into a brick-and-mortar establishment in Johnston County, North Carolina—creating a restaurant group that would go on to earn national recognition. Now, Jerry returns to his roots—to where it all began—to refine his craft, learn from past lessons, and rekindle the original vision that started it all.

That vision is: J. Stephenson Barbecue Company.

REDNECK SCIENTIFIC

BBQ TEAM

COMPETITION ERA

(2011 - Present)

 Jerry Stephenson’s passion for barbecue found its proving ground in competition. As a core member of the Redneck Scientific Competition BBQ Team, Jerry spent years competing on the world stage, refining technique, discipline, and consistency under the highest pressure environments barbecue has to offer. This era wasn’t just about trophies—it was about studying fire, meat, timing, and tradition across regions and cultures, laying the foundation for a scientific, repeatable approach to world-class barbecue..

REDNECK

SCIENTIFIC

BBQ TEAM

  COMPETITION ERA(2011 - Present)

 Jerry Stephenson’s passion for barbecue found its proving ground in competition. As a core member of the Redneck Scientific Competition BBQ Team, Jerry spent years competing on the world stage, refining technique, discipline, and consistency under the highest pressure environments barbecue has to offer.

This era wasn’t just about trophies—it was about studying fire, meat, timing, and tradition across regions and cultures, laying the foundation for a scientific, repeatable approach to world-class barbecue..

THE REDNECK

BBQ LAB

RESTAURANT LAUNCH

(2016 - Present)

 After years on the competition trail, the lessons learned with the Redneck Scientific Competition BBQ Team were brought out of the arena and into a permanent home. In 2016, Jerry Stephenson transformed competition-level discipline, precision, and regional influence into a restaurant experience—launching The Redneck BBQ Lab in eastern North Carolina. The Redneck BBQ Lab marked the moment barbecue shifted from trophies to the table, turning a competition mindset into a place built for community, consistency, and hospitality—every single day.

THE REDNECK

BBQ LAB

  RESTAURANT LAUNCH(2016 - Present)

 After years on the competition trail, the lessons learned with the Redneck Scientific Competition BBQ Team were brought out of the arena and into a permanent home. In 2016, Jerry Stephenson transformed competition-level discipline, precision, and regional influence into a restaurant experience—launching The Redneck BBQ Lab in eastern North Carolina. The Redneck BBQ Lab marked the moment barbecue shifted from trophies to the table, turning a competition mindset into a place built for community, consistency, and hospitality—every single day.

THE BBQ LAB

RESTAURANT LAUNCH

(2020 - Present)

Building on the foundation established at The Redneck BBQ Lab, Jerry Stephenson took the next step in refining the guest experience with the launch of The BBQ Lab in 2020. This chapter represented a deeper focus on approachability—bringing competition-level barbecue into a more polished, everyday dining environment without sacrificing technique or tradition. The BBQ Lab became a place where precision met comfort, designed to welcome new audiences while staying true to the craft, discipline, and hospitality that defined every chapter before it.

THE BBQ LAB

  RESTAURANT LAUNCH(2020 - Present)

Building on the foundation established at The Redneck BBQ Lab, Jerry Stephenson took the next step in refining the guest experience with the launch of The Barbecue Lab in 2020. This chapter represented a deeper focus on approachability—bringing competition-level barbecue into a more polished, everyday dining environment without sacrificing technique or tradition. The BBQ Lab became a place where precision met comfort, designed to welcome new audiences while staying true to the craft, discipline, and hospitality that defined every chapter before it.

J. Stepehenson

barbeque company

THE NEW VISION

(2026 - Present)

 With decades of experience spanning competition, restaurants, and hospitality-driven concepts, Jerry Stephenson unified it all under a single banner: J. Stephenson Barbeque Company. Set to open in early 2026, this chapter represents a refined vision—bringing together craftsmanship, consistency, and hard-earned knowledge into a brand built for longevity. J. Stephenson Barbeque Company is not a departure from the past, but its culmination—honoring tradition while setting a clear path forward for growth, innovation, and hospitality at scale.

J. Stepehenson

barbeque company

  THE NEW VISION

(2026 - Present)

 With decades of experience spanning competition, restaurants, and hospitality-driven concepts, Jerry has taken what he has learned, honed, refined and created: J. Stephenson Barbeque Company. Set to open in early 2026, this chapter represents a refined vision—bringing together craftsmanship, consistency, and hard-earned knowledge into a brand built for longevity. J. Stephenson Barbeque Company is not a departure from the past, but its culmination—honoring tradition while setting a clear path forward for growth, innovation, and hospitality at scale.

— Stephanie & Jess