Vannatten’s barbecue trailer has been sold to Rob and Carla Karch, marking a new chapter for the popular operation as founders Stephen Vannatten and Kelly Wheatley transition fully into the barbecue sauce business.
Vannatten and Wheatley launched the food trailer in September 2024 as a way to promote their sauce brand, which dates back to Vannatten’s home experimentation more than a decade ago.
“That was our big plan, to use the food truck to promote the sauce,” Wheatley said.
Before the trailer, Wheatley operated Docks River Dog in Cloverport for about four years. The sauce itself has roots going back much further.
“I started working on it probably in 2014,” Vannatten said. “By 2016, I was satisfied with the original, and I was good to go with the sweet heat.”
The decision to sell the trailer came down to time and priorities.
“The food truck takes so much time,” Vannatten said. “We didn’t have time to do enough stuff for the sauce.”
The Karches had been helping operate the trailer for about a year before buying it outright. They plan to continue serving the same menu and sauces under a new name while preserving the original branding.
“We’re going to leave the Vannatten’s on it, but we’re going to change the name to Karch’s Smokehouse and More,” Carla Karch said. “They’re concentrated on their sauce, and we’re concentrated on the trailer.”
The current menu includes pork, brisket, mutton, smoked bologna, chicken strips, battered cod, and sides including coleslaw, baked beans, loaded baked potato salad, and fries. Customers can choose from three sauces: original, sweet heat, and hot and spicy.
Karch said they intend to keep the existing menu intact and possibly add items such as hamburgers. The trailer is based in Hardinsburg and frequently works events, business lunches, county fairs, and Owensboro-area setups at places like Glenmore Distillery and Tractor Supply.
“If somebody wants us to set up and do something, and we don’t have anything booked, we’d be glad to do it,” Karch said.
Vannatten and Wheatley will continue producing sauce, which is currently available at Reid’s Orchard and Hill View Farms. They confirmed they are pursuing wider distribution and intend to make an announcement once retail placement is finalized.
Wheatley said the sale lets both parties pursue what they enjoy.
“We’re getting out of the food trailer business so we can focus on the sauce, and they’re getting into it because that’s what they want to do,” Wheatley said. “It works out for everybody.”
Vannatten said the goal now is to get the sauce in front of as many people as possible.
“We want to travel, promote, and get the sauce in front of more people,” Vannatten said. “That’s how you grow — getting out there and showing folks what you’re making. So this lets us do that, and we’re excited about it.”
