Back 9 Dips is a company that manufactures and sells packaged dips and sauces. They were founded in 1998 in Austin, Texas by two college friends who loved snacking and wanted to create the ultimate game day dip. Their most popular product is their Back 9 Queso, a rich and creamy queso dip made with real cheeses and spices.
In the early 2000s, Back 9 Dips experienced rapid growth as their dips gained popularity, especially in Texas and the Southern United States. They expanded distribution nationwide and could be found in major grocery store chains. However, over the past decade or so, some have wondered if Back 9 Dips is still operating, since their products are no longer as ubiquitous on store shelves.
So is Back 9 Dips still in business today? Let’s take a deeper look at the history and current status of this nostalgic dip company.
Background on Back 9 Dips
Back 9 Dips was founded by two University of Texas students, Mike Mobley and Lance Bollier. In the late 1990s, Mike and Lance would make queso and other dips while tailgating at UT football games and realized they had a winning recipe on their hands.
After graduation, Mike and Lance decided to turn their passion into a business. They rented a commercial kitchen, perfected their queso recipe, and began selling it locally in Austin under the name Back 9 Dips, inspired by their love of golf. The “back 9” refers to the last 9 holes of an 18-hole golf course, which require perseverance and grit.
The Back 9 dips quickly became a hit in Austin grocery stores, and the company expanded to selling them in San Antonio and Houston as well. They added other dip flavors like chili con queso, bacon horseradish, and black bean salsa. Distribution spread across Texas and soon jumped to nationwide as the dips appeared on shelves at major retailers like Kroger, Publix, Safeway, and more.
Rise to Fame in the Early 2000s
Back 9 Dips experienced a surge of growth and popularity in the early and mid-2000s. Their dips were considered a staple for any party or tailgate, especially in the Southern U.S. Their queso, in particular, was renowned for its smooth, creamy melted cheese and spicy kick.
According to one profile on the company, Back 9 Dips were generating nearly $10 million in revenue annually by the mid-2000s. Their dips could be found in over 12,000 grocery stores nationwide.
Besides retail distribution, Back 9 Dips also found success selling their products at college football stadiums and professional sports arenas. They were able to license their dips to be served at concession stands for colleges like LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and the NFL’s Houston Texans. This helped grow their brand recognition immensely.
With their profitable growth and innovation in the dip category, Back 9 Dips was considered one of the emerging brands to watch in the early 2000s snack food industry.
Recent Years and Current Status
Back 9 Dips continued to produce and sell their signature dips throughout the 2010s, but their prominence in the marketplace began to fade during this time period.
In the past 5 years or so, distribution of Back 9 Dips products has decreased significantly. They are no longer sold nationwide at chains like Kroger, Safeway or Publix. Their social media pages and website have not been updated since 2015.
So what happened to Back 9 Dips? While never officially confirmed, industry experts speculate a few possible reasons for the brand’s decline:
– **Increased competition** – The dip and sauce category exploded with new competitors and innovative products. Back 9 may have failed to keep up with food trends.
– **Production challenges** – As a small company, they may have struggled with manufacturing and distribution at a nationwide scale. Larger corporations likely edged them off of retail shelves.
– **Legal issues** – There are reports that the founding partners had disagreements, resulting in lengthy lawsuits. This could have hampered the company’s operations and marketing efforts.
– **Limited product range** – Back 9 was known for their queso but didn’t expand into other dip genres as much as competitors did. This could have lessened their appeal.
Despite their faded retail presence and social media inactivity, there are signs that Back 9 Dips may still be in business on some level:
– **Website** – back9dips.com still exists and indicates the company is based in Austin, TX. However, the site itself is outdated.
– **Spotted products** – Some consumers occasionally report seeing Back 9 products at limited regional or local grocery stores, indicating limited production.
– **Trademark** – Back 9 Dips continues to maintain an active trademark on their name and logo according to public records.
So while Back 9 Dips appears to still be in business legally, their operational status is unclear. They are likely only producing limited quantities of product for regional distribution vs. their nationwide availability in the 2000s.
Outlook for the Future
While Back 9 Dips has declined substantially from their early success, there could still be opportunities for a comeback:
– Relaunching their social media with new marketing campaigns and recipes could reconnect them with fans.
– Partnering with a larger manufacturer or distributor may help get Back 9 back on major retail shelves.
– Expanding their product line beyond just queso could open new markets. Unique flavors and dip varieties could attract consumers.
– Leaning into nostalgia and retro branding could build strong buzz, especially among millennials who have fond memories of enjoying Back 9 dips at college tailgates and parties.
– Selling online directly through their website or food delivery services like Amazon could be an alternate retail strategy.
Back 9 Dips created a beloved brand with their flavorful queso and dips. With the right strategies and resources, it’s possible this Austin, Texas original could experience a resurgence and regain a top spot in the snack food industry. Only time will tell if Back 9 still has more business on the back 9.
Conclusion
Back 9 Dips made a big splash in the early 2000s as their signature queso and chip dips became a pantry staple for customers across the Southern and Midwestern U.S. However, over the past decade or so, the brand’s distribution and marketing presence has faded substantially.
While the company still appears to be in business on some level, their operational scale and reach is likely a fraction of what it was in their early heyday. Competition, legal issues, manufacturing challenges and a limited product range may have all contributed to their decline.
There remains an opportunity for Back 9 Dips to leverage nostalgia and regain national distribution if they can overcome past challenges. For now, the Texas-based dip company seems to only have limited regional distribution but retains their trademark and website, indicating they are still around in some capacity after all these years.
| Year | Key Events |
|---|---|
| 1998 | Back 9 Dips founded in Austin, TX by college friends Mike Mobley and Lance Bollier |
| Early 2000s | Gain popularity throughout Texas with Queso dip and expand distribution statewide |
| Mid 2000s | Products sold in 12,000 grocery stores nationwide, about $10M in annual revenue |
| 2010s | Distribution and marketing presence begins to fade |
| Current | Limited distribution in some regions, but company still holds trademark |