Golden Flake has steered away from being the cheapest product on the shelf, and counts on consumer loyalty to keep its chips moving. But we have customers who love us and buy us no matter what. Golden Enterprises Inc. The company has 1,400 employees and operates in 12 states. Manufacturing plants are located in Nashville, Tenn., Ocala, Fla., and at company headquarters in Birmingham. Golden Flake represents approximately 95 percent of its parent company's business.
Employees own eight percent of the company through an employee stock-ownership plan.
Pate's father and family farmed several thousand acres, and it seemed like a good life to Pate. I liked the outdoors, and farming made me close to nature, close to God. It was a healthy lifestyle. He rose rapidly through the ranks, but after moving five times in six years, he was ready for a change. But farming did not seem the right career choice anymore, and in 1968, Pate joined Golden Flake.