World Champion Pitmaster Mark Lambert Inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame®
Induction Honors Two Decades of Live-Fire Mastery, Championship Dominance, and the Global Business Impact of Sweet Swine O’ Mine
BYHALIA, Miss. — [May 28, 2026] — The American Royal has officially announced that Mark Lambert—seven-time Barbecue World Champion, veteran competitive pitmaster, and founder of Sweet Swine O’ Mine—has been inducted into the prestigious Barbecue Hall of Fame®. This highest honor recognizes Lambert's extraordinary contributions to the barbecue community as an elite competitor, master flavor profile innovator, and visionary industry entrepreneur.
Lambert will be officially inducted during the historic Black Apron ceremony at the 46th World Series of Barbecue®, taking place September 30 through October 4, 2026, at the American Royal’s brand-new facility in Kansas City, Kansas.
While Lambert first gained national acclaim on the competitive circuit—clinching five Memphis in May World Championships, an American Royal World Championship in Ribs, and a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo World Championship—his legacy is anchored in his work as an entrepreneur. From his backyard cooking roots, Lambert transformed his deep passion for live-fire cooking into Sweet Swine O’ Mine, a premier barbecue brand, specialized equipment retailer, and national distribution powerhouse based out of Byhalia, Mississippi.
"Being inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame is an incredible, humbling milestone, but this honor belongs just as much to the community, our team, and the folks who have supported our business from day one," said Mark Lambert. "When I started Sweet Swine O’ Mine, the goal wasn’t just to win trophies—it was to build a business that provides pitmasters of all levels with the absolute best knowledge, tools, fuel, and flavor profiles to succeed, whether they are on a massive competition stage or in their own backyard."
Under Lambert’s leadership, Sweet Swine O’ Mine has evolved from a small, local operation into a highly respected national brand. Today, the company operates a dedicated, state-of-the-art retail and distribution center in Byhalia, supplying specialized cooker brands like Yoder, Ole Hickory, Weber, and its own award-winning line of proprietary rubs and sauces.
Cementing its status as a cornerstone of the commercial and competition barbecue market, Sweet Swine O’ Mine achieved a massive retail milestone in May 2026, securing national distribution for its product line across 1,997 Home Depot stores across the United States.
Beyond product manufacturing and retail distribution, Lambert has dedicated his business platform to industry education. The company recently completed a major expansion of its Byhalia warehouse facility, building a specialized, high-tech wing designed exclusively for hosting interactive cooking classes and recording digital educational media. Through his widespread #BBQKNOWHOW digital campaign, Lambert continually shares masterclass-level techniques on fire management, equipment selection, and flavor building with a growing global audience.
For more information about Mark Lambert’s Barbecue Hall of Fame induction, educational classes, or to explore the Sweet Swine O’ Mine product family, please visit http://www.ssomd.com.