Founded in Ville Platte, LA, Slap Ya Mama, the well-known Cajun seasoning company, is expanding its operations into Lafayette Parish.
Coming soon to 4325 NW Evangeline Thruway, just north of Carencro, LA, Slap Ya Mama will soon break ground on a new 18,000-square-foot facility. This new space will feature a small customer-facing storefront, but will also house administrative offices, e-commerce operations, and a warehouse with 3 loading docks.
Renderings provided by: Architect: A Beazley Architecture LLC
“This will be built primarily for logistics and sustaining our continued growth,” said Joe Walker, Vice President/Distribution of Slap Ya Mama. “The majority will be warehousing, plus an area for e-commerce fulfillment.”
The company has grown consistently since its founding back in the mid-90s. And with many growing companies, warehousing, and logistics becomes a main component of success or failure. So to see that Slap Ya Mama is making moves into Lafayette, the Hub City region, it is clear that they aim to improve logistics.
“This opens the doors for logistics and further increases control of our freight and purchase orders, allowing us to efficiently continue our expansion into new markets across the US and beyond,” said Walker. “Location is key for our success and we feel broadened exposure on I-49 will be widely beneficial to our Slap Ya Mama brand. We are excited for what the future location holds!”
So how did the name Slap Ya Mama come about? Contrary to what you might think, the name “Slap Ya Mama” doesn’t involve any actual slapping. According to their website, the story began in 1996 when Anthony “TW” Walker and his family owned a local convenience store in Ville Platte, Louisiana, with a 24-hour deli. TW wanted a Cajun seasoning with authentic flavor and low salt, but when he couldn’t find one, he decided to make his own. Gathering around his grandmother’s kitchen table, TW and his family experimented until they perfected their unique blend. His young sons, Jack and Joe, mixed the seasoning by rolling a pickle jar around the living room floor, combining work and play.
The seasoning was a hit, and it needed a name. Inspired by TW’s popular dish, “World Famous Slap Ya Mama Atomic Potatoes,” and with his mother Wilda Marie’s approval, his wife Mama Jen insisted on calling it “Slap Ya Mama,” capturing the seasoning’s bold and authentic Cajun flavor.
Contractor: Manuel Commercial LLC
Architect: A Beazley Architecture LLC
The new Lafayette expansion for Slap Ya Mama will be a great growth achievement for the local, South Louisiana brand further solidifying that the South’s food is just better.
Construction is tentatively set to break ground within the next couple of weeks with an anticipated completion timeframe of 12 months. Once completed, this will also provide new jobs to the Lafayette/St. Landry area.
You can learn more about Slap Ya Mama and all of their products & history at https://slapyamama.com.
