Ah, the Tar Heel State. North Carolina is popular for it’s diverse environment, a landscape that offers a 3 major regions: the eastern coastal plains, the piedmont and the western mountains. But you may not know that NC has another big thing to offer: business.
When people think of business headquarters, they often think of states with densely populated cities like New York City, Los Angeles, San Jose and Houston. But there are dozens of top national businesses headquartered in NC — and here are six that will surprise you:
Burt’s Bees — Durham, NC
Pucker up and moisturize those lips. Burt’s Bees, a popular beeswax lip balm brand, began over 30 years ago when Maine artist Roxanne Quimby began making candles with unused beeswax from Burt Shavitz’s local beehive. Eventually, Quimby and Shavitz evolved their brand to center around the moisturizing beeswax lip balm we all know today. In 1994, the company moved its headquarters from Dover-Foxcroft, ME, to Durham, NC. Since, the company has remained at its American Tobacco Campus location in the Bull City.
Bank of America Corporation — Charlotte, NC
The common saying is “money makes the world go ‘round,” and Charlotte, NC, is getting in on the action. Recently, Charlotte became the second largest financial city in the United States, and Bank of America Corporation is the largest bank to call the Queen City “home.”
Harris Teeter — Matthews, NC
Harris Teeter prides themselves on being the “Neighborhood Food & Pharmacy.” But I bet you didn’t know that Harris Teeter’s headquarters call Matthews, NC, their home neighborhood. Matthews, NC, is a large suburban town of Charlotte located right inside the Queen City’s beltline. And according to the Supermarket News’s 2012 “Top 75 Retailers and Wholesalers” report, Harris Teeter ranks 34 based on 2011 fiscal-year sales of $4.3 billion.
Lock Laces — Durham, NC
Another great company that calls Durham, NC home is Lock Laces®! Lock Laces® is the original elastic no-tie shoelace company that presents an alternative to messy traditional tying laces. Simply replace your traditional laces with Lock Laces® and never tie again! Although Lock Laces® were invented to help improve triathlon transition times, they have received continual praise among groups like kids, special needs, senior citizens, pregnant women and more.
Krispy Kreme — Winston-Salem, NC
Did someone just say the “Hot Now” sign is on? Krispy Kreme first opened its doors in July 1937. According to Krispy Kreme’s history, Vernon Rudolph began selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Winston-Salem, NC, after buying a secret yeast-raised doughnut recipe from a New Orleans French chef. Now, 80 years after the company began, Krispy Kreme is still headquartered in Winston-Salem, giving the world a reason to thank North Carolina for one of the best fried foods in history.
Do you know of other surprising companies that are headquartered in NC? Tell us your favorites in the comments section below!
