Old-fashioned nickname for the Carolinas, Cackalacky, becomes alumnus’ zesty sauce brand name
A chicken lollipop? Or chicken meat balled and wrapped in bacon on a bone? While many of us are raising our eyebrows in confusion at those items, they are actually a part of H. Page Skelton’s favorite recipe for his CackalackyTM Spice Sauce.
After graduation from West Virginia University in 1991 with a degree in English, Skelton moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., and worked a “9 to 5 job” for a telecommunications company. But Skelton’s real passion was for cooking.
After hours, Skelton would experiment with the base for his signature spicy sauce recipe. Glasses of hot sauce had lined his kitchen table, each containing slight variations of the recipe. Looking for a hot sauce that did more than burn your taste buds, he wanted a “yin with yang” that was sweet and spicy.
As a light bulb turned on in Skelton’s head, he thought of sweet potatoes. “I was like a mad scientist working on this recipe,” he said. After a few months and a few bad batches, he got it right. Skelton discovered his wife Caroline, also a ’91 grad of WVU, eating his sauce creation with cheese and crackers exclaiming not to change a thing. With her seal of approval, he started making more for friends and family.
“Caroline said we should just make a go of it,” said Skelton. “Follow our dreams.”
During a typical backyard cookout, his friend yelled, “Hey man, pass me that Cackalacky sauce.” Skelton described the moment as the heavens opening up, light shining down, and he knew, that was what he needed to call his creation. And so, Skelton named his hot sauce after an old nickname that was used for the Carolinas – Cackalacky.
Skelton started taking days off here and there to promote his product and before he knew it, he was working on Cackalacky full time. The products are now sold in fresh markets in 22 states and in Costco stores in the Carolinas.
Although Cackalacky’s future is zesty, it was not an easy trip. “The first thing I learned was that mistakes cost money,” said Skelton. “But you get efficient at not making mistakes.” Skelton also firmly believes in his “I am the gas, and Caroline is the brakes,” system. Without his wife telling him when enough is enough, Skelton would never know when to stop.
Cackalacky Spice Sauce was recently reviewed by the Supermarket Guru as “a hit!” The Guru’s review generated even more business for Cackalacky and elated Skelton and his staff. Along with the Supermarket Guru, Cackalacky has had positive reviews and features by The Washington Post, Fine Living Network, The History Channel, Southern Living Magazine, Savor N.C. Magazine, and Tony Danza, Comedy Central, as well as Food Network’s Rachel Ray and Bobby Flay.
Cackalacky is not all fun and games and they take philanthropy very seriously. For their 10-year celebration, Cackalacky hosted a benefit for the Diabetes Bus Initiative and is working on another for PorchNC.org. “I’m happy to do something and it’s no effort so why not,” said Skelton.
Skelton is quick to note that his education and experience at WVU helped to prepare him for the business world. He loved the Mountaineer tailgates and was the annotator, or secretary, for the Mu Mu chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. “The leadership experience I was exposed to was invaluable,” said Skelton. “WVU trained me to be open to opportunities.”
To buy Cackalacky hot sauce, visit the “Cack-a-log” at cackalacky.com.
This story was written by Alicia Ann Elkin, a senior public relations major at WVU’s P.I. Reed School of Journalism.
