BYHALIA, Miss. — The American Royal has announced that seven-time Barbecue World Champion and Sweet Swine O’ Mine founder Mark Lambert will be inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame®. This prestigious honor celebrates Lambert’s dominant competitive career, his mastery of flavor innovation, and his visionary leadership in the commercial barbecue industry.
Lambert will receive the historic Black Apron during the 46th World Series of Barbecue®, held September 30 through October 4, 2026, at the American Royal’s new complex in Kansas City, Kansas.
While Lambert first built his reputation at the pits—capturing five Memphis in May World Championships, alongside American Royal and Houston Livestock Show titles—his industry impact reaches far beyond the competition trail. Operating out of Byhalia, Mississippi, Lambert turned a backyard passion into a national distribution powerhouse. Today, Sweet Swine O’ Mine serves as a premier retail hub for elite cooker brands like Yoder, Ole Hickory, and Weber, while manufacturing an award-winning lineup of proprietary rubs and sauces.
In May 2026, the brand cemented its footprint in the commercial market by launching its product line across 1,997 Home Depot locations nationwide.
"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 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."
Beyond equipment and flavor, Lambert continues to prioritize education. Following a major expansion of the Byhalia facility to include a dedicated digital media and teaching wing, his ongoing #BBQKNOWHOW campaign actively equips pitmasters worldwide with masterclass-level instruction on fire management and recipe development.
For more details on Mark Lambert’s induction, upcoming interactive classes, or to shop the Sweet Swine O’ Mine catalog, visit http://www.ssomd.com.