Integrity Food Group

05/23/2025

Check out this post on the history of Integrity Food Group’s home. Couldn’t think of a better place to put the smell of baked cheese straws in the air!

📜✨ Peer Into West Point’s Heritage – Week 5 ✨📜

Our journey through West Point’s rich past continues! This week, we step inside 621 Main Street, a building that has worn many hats over the decades—and today, it proudly serves as the flavorful home of Integrity Food Group, makers of Savannah Grace Cheese Straws and Chelsea’s Spicy Pretzels.

In the 1940s, this downtown landmark was a Chevrolet dealership run by the Browning family. The first floor was a car showroom, and the second floor—yes, really—was for service. Vehicles were driven (or pushed!) up ramps to the upper level, and the old garage doors can still be spotted today. During World War II, the building transformed into Camp Peary Transportation Services, helping move troops between military bases. Later, it was home to Leggett’s Department Store and eventually became the headquarters of Citizens and Farmers Bank.

Then came 2006, when Jeff and Helen Bateman, seasoned veterans of the specialty food world, formed Integrity Food Group, LLC. Armed with a love of savory Southern snacks and a strong sense of family, they created Savannah Grace Cheese Straws—named after their granddaughters Savannah and Grace—and later launched Chelsea’s Pantry, featuring the fan-favorite Chelsea’s Spicy Pretzels. As the business grew, so did the need for a forever home. The Batemans discovered 621 Main Street and fell in love with its history and charm. With the help of the Town of West Point and C&F Bank, they first leased space in what became the Downtown Business Center, then proudly purchased the building in 2013 to secure a permanent home for their operation.

Today, under the leadership of their daughter Beth Bristow, the Batemans and their team of ten passionate employees produce over 10,000 tubs of cheese straws a week, using more than 3,000 pounds of sharp cheddar cheese (yes—lots and lots of cheese!). Their products can be found in specialty shops, boutiques, and gourmet markets across the U.S.—but it all starts right here, in the heart of downtown West Point.

📍 Next time you’re on the corner of 7th and Main, take a moment to admire this stately building (and enjoy the delectable smell of baked cheese in the air 🧀). From car ramps and bank vaults to savory snacks and Southern hospitality, 621 Main Street continues to serve West Point with pride—and a dash of spice.

This series is proudly brought to you by Integrity Food Group, the West Point Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of West Point.

Stay with us as we continue uncovering the stories that built not just a town — but an entire community, brick by brick, story by story. And to catch up, visit west-point.va.us/heritage!

Photo courtesy Historical Society of West Point

05/16/2025

Happy to be part of this West Point history series. Stay tuned each week for a new piece of history. The past is so interesting, who knows the future can be too!

📜✨ Peer Into West Point’s Heritage – Week 4 ✨📜

Our journey through West Point’s history continues! This week, our stop pauses where rails meet river.

Long before highways crisscrossed Virginia, the Town of West Point stood at the crossroads of commerce and travel. Nestled at the meeting point of the Mattaponi and Pamunkey rivers—forming the mighty York—West Point’s original train and steamship terminal once bustled with life. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, West Point was a vital link between inland Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay. The Richmond & York River Railroad brought passengers and freight right to the water’s edge, where grand steamships waited to carry them to Norfolk, Baltimore, and beyond.

This confluence of rail and river turned West Point into a booming port town, with bustling docks, busy warehouses and businesses, and an elegant hotel lining the waterfront. For many, it was the first glimpse of the coast—and for others, a final stop before heading inland. Though the steamships are long gone, their legacy lingers in the river breezes and brick remnants near the old depot site.

📍 Visit the Historical Society of West Point for a closer look at artifacts, photos, and models of the train and steamship terminal.

📍Walk the waterfront along 1st Street and imagine the clang of iron wheels and the call of steamboat whistles echoing across the York.

This series is proudly brought to you by Integrity Food Group , the West Point Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of West Point.

Stay with us as we continue celebrating the people and places that bring life to our town’s 155-year history.

Starting your journey a little late? Catch up on weeks 1 through 3 at west-point.va.us/heritage or westpointvachamber.com/s/stories

📸 Thank you to Historical Society of West Point for the awesome photo of the rail and ship terminal. ♥

05/10/2025

📜✨ Peer Into West Point’s Heritage – Week 3 ✨📜

Our journey through West Point’s rich past continues! This week, we turn our attention to an industry that produced more than just paper—it helped shape a community: Chesapeake Pulp & Paper Company, the original paper mill.

Established in the late 19th century, Chesapeake Pulp & Paper, later named Chesapeake Corporation, quickly became the lifeblood of West Point’s economy. Drawing power from the Pamunkey River, the mill brought steady jobs, sparked growth, and positioned the town as a vital industrial center in the region.

From its iconic smokestacks to its generations of hardworking employees, the paper mill is a powerful symbol of resilience, progress, and hometown pride. For many families in West Point, it wasn’t just a workplace—it was a way of life.

Now operating as Smurfit Westrock, the mill remains the town’s largest employer and continues to play a vital role in the local economy—still standing as a cornerstone of the community it helped build.

📍 Visit the Historical Society of West Point’s Museum for a closer look at artifacts, photos, and stories from the mill’s early days.

This series is proudly brought to you by Integrity Food Group, the West Point Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of West Point.

Stay with us as we continue uncovering the stories that built not just a town—but an entire community, brick by brick, story by story.

Mill photo courtesy Library of Congress.

04/26/2025

📜✨ Peer Into West Point’s Heritage ✨📜

Over the next three months, we’re taking you on a journey—a virtual walk through time—highlighting the rich heritage of West Point, Virginia. Each week, we’ll spotlight a new piece of history, culminating in a living tapestry that celebrates our town’s storied past and vibrant future.

This journey is proudly brought to you by Integrity Food Group, the West Point Chamber of Commerce, and the Town of West Point.

🛑 Our first stop: The legendary Terminal Hotel. Once a bustling hub on the waterfront near 1st and Lee Street, the Terminal Hotel welcomed travelers, dignitaries, and locals alike during its prime.

👉 Learn more about its fascinating history: visitwestpointkingwilliam.com/post/feature-west-point-s-terminal-hotel
📍 Step inside the past at the Historical Society of West Point’s Museum, where original artifacts from the iconic Terminal Hotel are on display. Then, explore 15 historical markers located around town—don’t miss The Terminal’s, located at 1st and Main Street.

Stay tuned—your West Point heritage tour begins now.

12/28/2024

Great burger, fried cheese curds and frozen custard along with many other treats. Check them out if you’re ever near one!

01/26/2024

Foodie alert. On James Island off of Charleston SC you have to check out this awesome breakfast and lunch spot. Great food with a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

06/07/2023

You may be surprised to learn the quaint coastal town of West Point is home to nationally distributed brands of cheese straws, and more!

03/07/2023

Nice location for a smaller regional show. We are at the Virginia State Parks show for a couple days. Hopefully you can purchase some Savannah Grace Cheese Straws or Chelsea’s Savory Snack Mix for your next hike in our great park system.

08/18/2022

Happy Birthday to IFG’s General Manager Beth Bateman Bristow. She does a awesome job and has taken on so much more this year as Mom and Dad take a small step back and sneak out of the plant a little more frequently to enjoy what God has blessed us with and hopefully share some joy along the way!

07/22/2022

Today we will be closed to remember the life of Helen’s older sister. She will be greatly missed, she lived up to her nickname of “Lovely Lady”. Thanks so much to a wonderful staff that brought Helen this basket of joy. We appreciate the many thoughts and prayers. We are so blessed 🙏

04/21/2022

Hard to believe that the oldest namesake of the Savannah Grace brand turned the big 18 today. She is a beautiful young lady inside and out. It was a joy for Mimi and Papa to get to spend part of this special day with her. See you back at work tomorrow after school😉.

04/16/2022

Such a nice place to eat and shop at the general store. They are good people and have been loyal customers for 25 years or more.

Facebook Friends - we could use your help!

Thank you for your patronage and support, especially through these past two years. We weathered the storm better than we would have guessed THANKS TO ALL OF YOU.

After 30+ years, our Dining Room Manager, Brenda Robertson, is planning a well-deserved retirement. Brenda has beautifully led her staff that is best known for southern hospitality and excellent service. I hope you have had the opportunity to meet her during one of your visits. Filling her shoes will not be easy.

Often our most valuable employees are discovered through patrons who know us well.

We would greatly appreciate you sharing this news in case there is someone you know that would be a good fit.

Our website has detailed information on the Dining Room Manager position.

https://www.michietavern.com/michie-tavern-employment-opportunities/