The Honey Baked Ham Company eyeing St. Joseph for next location

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The famed spiral-sliced ham is coming to St. Joseph.

The Honey Baked Ham Company, a nationwide retailer known for its signature recipe and holiday catering, has confirmed plans to open a franchise location in St. Joe, with a target opening date ahead of the 2026 holiday season.

The announcement ends the need for St. Joseph residents to make the hour-long drive to Kansas City to purchase the company’s products, which include glazed hams, turkeys, pre-cooked side dishes, and a full catering menu.

Eric Edwards, the company’s Director of Development, said St. Joseph stood out during a national search for new markets.

"As we were kind of creating our list of everything that we wanted to see in the community, St. Joe was pretty much checking every box," Edwards said.

He explained the city was identified as a top-10 target market in the country for the company’s expansion.

According to Edwards, St. Joseph’s business-friendly environment, market growth, and community support were key factors in the decision.

"There are a lot of communities out there that I would say are business friendly," Edwards noted. "But having a community that is truly accepting of new concepts coming in and wants new concepts coming in, wants to hire those people, and seems to be excited about it. It's more rare than people realize."

While a specific site for the franchise has not yet been determined, the company has a firm timeline.

The goal is to open the store in time for the 2026 holiday rush. If that target isn’t met, Edwards confirmed the company is committed to being open for the 2027 holiday season.