JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – The Hospitality State is also the home for some of the South’s and America’s most iconic companies.

Businesses investing in Mississippi did not begin this year with Amazon . The state is a hub for banking, music, commerce and innovation nationwide. Many business ventures, which often started in small towns, grew to have a global impact. Below are some of the most noteworthy companies based in Mississippi.

Jackie’s International

Headquartered: Canton, Mississippi

S. L. Sethi was a professor at Mississippi Valley State University when Jackie’s International began in 1973. With the success of drive-in restaurants in Brookhaven, Hazlehurst and Yazoo City, he stopped teaching. Jackie’s International grew into a multi-million-dollar company with over 50 properties in four states and 1,200 employees.

The company consists of over 50 properties in four states that include Bumpers America’s Favorite Foods, Fresh Market Cafe, additional independent restaurants and numerous hotels.

Southern Tire Mart

Headquarters: Columbia, Mississippi

Lawyer Ernest Duff founded Southern Tire Mart in 1973. Like Sethi, Duff started the business as a side hustle in Columbia. The need for dedicated management increased exponentially as the business expanded. Sons Tommy and Jim joined the company business after finishing college. Today, the company’s 60 locations offer extensive automotive, commercial and industrial tire and repair services to customers in 26 states.

Ergon

Headquarters: Flowood, Mississippi

In 1954, Leslie Lampton Sr. started Lampton Oil Company with a few thousand dollars in savings, two employees and a used fuel transport truck. Today, Ergon is engaged in industries related to the refining and marketing of specialty oils, asphalt, thermoplastic resins, petrochemicals, propane and the necessary infrastructure to support those businesses.

Ergon supports customers and partners across the United States, Mexico and more than 90 countries worldwide.

Viking

Headquarters: Greenwood, Mississippi

Fred Carl, Jr., founded the company known for its premium kitchen ranges and appliances in 1984. Carl launched the company in Greenwood. He served as Viking’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer until his retirement in January 2013. The majority of the company’s critically acclaimed product line is still made in the Mississippi Delta town.

Hancock Whitney Bank

Headquarters: Gulfport, Mississippi

In the late 1800s, the Gulf Coast and two new banks were booming: Hancock Bank in South Mississippi and Whitney Bank in New Orleans. During the Great Depression, both banks pledged mutual support between their banks, vowing to help each other in times of need. The banks merged in 2011, forming Hancock Whitney Bank .

Newk’s Eatery

Headquarters: Jackson, Mississippi

Newk’s Eatery began in Oxford back in 2004. It opened its first franchised store in 2005. The company grew rapidly, becoming well-known for its soups, salads, sandwiches and sweet tea. Since then, it has grown into a reputable chain with over 100 locations in 13 states.

The chain’s fast-casual approach to dining became popular, standing out against similar chains such as McAlister’s .

Trustmark Bank

Headquarters: Jackson, Mississippi

Serving the financial needs of its customers and communities began in Jackson back in 1889. Trustmark serves customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas in over 170 locations. The 135-year-old bank offers personal, business and mortgage loans, financial advice and wealth management.

Peavey Electronics

Headquarters: Meridian, Mississippi

Founded by Hartley Peavey in 1965 as a one-man shop, Peavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest makers and suppliers of musical instruments, amplifiers and professional audio systems in the world. It distributes more than 2,000 products to more than 130 countries. Musicians associated with Behemoth, the Bobby Rush Band, Luke Combs and Blake Shelton have used their products. So have countless musical hobbyists.

Yates Construction

Headquarters: Philadelphia, Mississippi

In 1964, W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company became incorporated. Today, Yates Construction is ranked among the top commercial and industrial construction companies in the United States. The family-owned company’s portfolio includes commercial and industrial projects from various sectors like government, healthcare, gaming, retail and manufacturing.

Southern Motion

Headquarters: Pontotoc, Mississippi

The name for the company founded in 1996 came from a painting made by a Birmingham, Alabama, artist. Southern Motion’s ultimate goal is to make the world’s best reclining furniture. The company sells sofas, sectionals, recliners, accent chairs and more at independent retailers throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. It currently employs over 1,500 workers in its five Mississippi-based facilities.

KLLM Transport Services

Headquarters: Richland, Mississippi

Since 1963, KLLM transported perishable commodities for its customers nationwide. It is currently one of the largest temperature-controlled truckload carriers in the country. KLLM also offers transportation services in Mexico. The company offers several transportation service offerings including over-the-road, regional, dedicated, intermodal and logistics services.

Butler Snow

Headquarters: Ridgeland, Mississippi

Starting in the Magnolia State, Butler Snow has evolved into a firm with international reach since 1954. With 26 offices in the U.S. and two in Europe and Asia, the law firm is one of the state’s most reputable and well-known. Butler Snow has over 70 different practice areas across five industries and over 400 attorneys.

Cal-Maine Foods

Headquarters: Ridgeland, Mississippi

Cal-Maine Foods started with Fred Adams, Jr., delivering feed in rural areas surrounding Jackson in 1957. In 1963, the enterprise expanded to build the world’s largest egg farm in Edwards. By 1969, Adams’s company merged with two others in California and Maine.

The company is the largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs in the United States. In 2023, it sold 13.2 billion eggs.

C Spire

Headquarters: Ridgeland, Mississippi

C Spire as we know it began in 1947, with the acquisition of Calhoun City Telephone Company. The company, then known as Cellular South, expanded coverage outside of Mississippi and became known for several firsts. For instance, it was the first U.S. wireless carrier to make incoming calls free to customers. It was also the first carrier to provide wireless coverage following Hurricane Katrina.

Cellular South rebranded as C Spire in 2011. Today, it is known for its loyal customer service and investment in local communities.

Farm Bureau Insurance

Headquarters: Ridgeland, Mississippi

In 1947, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company was established to provide affordable insurance to rural farming communities. As the company grew and its product line expanded, its customer base naturally broadened to include all geographical groups, not just farmers. It is one of the largest property and casualty insurance companies in the country, with operations in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina.

Farm Bureau offers auto, home, life and flood insurance in all six states. It also offers more insurance plans and select services in Mississippi.

Cadence Bank

Headquarters: Tupelo, Mississippi

Raymond Trice and Company, a modest mercantile operation in Verona, received a perpetual charter to set up a bank in its store in 1876. The bank would change its name four more times -Bank of Lee County, Bank of Tupelo, Bank of Mississippi and Bancorp South- before its present name: Cadence Bank . The bank became the first statewide bank in 1987. Today, the regional bank offers personal, business and mortgage loans, financial advice and wealth management.

Renesant Bank

Headquarters: Tupelo, Mississippi

In 1904, a group of prominent businessmen joined together to form The Peoples Bank & Trust Company in a Lee County bakery. Today, Renasant Bank has assets worth approximately $17.3 billion and operates 193 banking, lending, mortgage, wealth management and insurance offices throughout the Southeast. The 120-year-old bank offers similar services to other regional banks like Trustmark, Hancock Whitney and Cadence Banks.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.