Mama Geraldine's | 2021 Small Business Rock Star

Cathy Cunningham has been enjoying delicious cheese straws her whole life – thanks to the culinary talent of her mother, Geraldine Cunningham, and her grandmother, Emma Lindgren McCloskey. Cathy decided it was time to share the family treat with the world, so she started a business selling the cheese straws she had grown up loving so much.  In 1994, Mama Geraldine’s and Bodacious Food was born! For nearly 30 years, the rest of the world has enjoyed this tasty family recipe.  

The company’s Pickens County production facility now creates six varieties of the straws: Aged Cheddar, Pimento Cheese, Parmesan Herb, Chipotle Cheddar, and gluten-free versions of the Aged Cheddar and Parmesan Herb.  Mama Geraldine’s has also expanded to include three types of cookies: Italian Wedding, Pecan Cini-Minis, and Key Lime.  

These goodies are now distributed worldwide and can be found in well-known stores as well as local markets. 

Mama Geraldine’s was chosen to be a 2021 Small Business Rock Star for Region 1 because of their outstanding work in the food manufacturing industry. They took a small, tasty idea and turned it into a global product. We are proud to award them for their hard work and look forward to seeing what their future holds. 

Learn more about Mama Geraldine’s, and watch Cathy Cunningham and the Mama Geraldine’s team accept their award here: