Proudly Local Business: 1908 Barbecue in Wainwright

“Some pals and I got together... The three of us developed a spice blend and after a while, we started selling it in a few other stores in Alberta and it kind of just took off from there."

There’s something special about the smell of brisket in the smoker, ribs on the barbecue and a flavourful spice blend that brings a whole meal together. Marty Yurchak, owner of 1908 Barbecue in Wainwright, knows exactly how to bottle that feeling.

It started back in 2015 when Marty decided to enter a barbecue competition. “Some pals and I got together and we started cooking briskets and pork and all that stuff to practice,” he says. “Through that, the three of us developed a spice blend.”

What started as a fun backyard project between friends quickly turned into something more when Marty recognized a gap in the market for Canadian-made barbecue spices. He began selling that first backyard blend at Armstrong’s Clothing & Sports in Wainwright – another business proudly owned and operated by his family. “After a while, we started selling it in a few other stores in Alberta and it kind of just took off from there.”

By 2019, Marty’s side project had evolved into an official company: 1908 Barbecue. The name, fittingly, is a tribute to the store and town where it all began. “Armstrong’s started in 1908,” says Marty. “So, it’s sort of an homage to the store and the incorporation of Wainwright in June of the same year.”

As the spice blends grew in popularity, so did the need to bring production in-house. That led to the creation of Alchemy Blends – a spice mixing and packaging company that now helps more than 30 vendors across Canada develop and distribute their own products. “We followed the same sort of pattern as the brewing industry,” says Marty. “There were 10 brewers in Alberta in 2009, and now there are over 100. The spice business was very similar, with us being one of the few in Western Canada, and now, instead of being competition, we make their stuff for them and give them an opportunity to enter the market in the spice world.”

While 1908 Barbecue and Alchemy Blends are two separate ventures, they share a common thread: a love of great flavour and a passion for doing things differently. “At 1908, we offer different flavour profiles than most,” Marty says. “Our niche is what we call ‘wing rubs,’ so our dill pickle rub, lemon basil, jalapeño cheddar, jalapeño salt – all sorts of different flavours you wouldn’t typically put on a steak.”

1908 Barbecue is run solely by Marty, but Alchemy Blends operates with a small but growing team. Marty and his business partner, Clay Gosselin, lead the way alongside eight part-time employees, many of whom are local students. “They’ve been marvellous for us,” Marty says. “And I’m proud to offer a workplace where they’re not just pumping gas. It’s an important role where they have to follow recipes and it’s a bit higher end.”

Marty’s passion for mentorship extends beyond the workplace, inspiring young people to see entrepreneurship as a real and accessible career path. “I called our local school counsellor and said, ‘Do you tell students they’re allowed to own a business?’” he says. “You don’t just have to be a teacher or an engineer. While that’s marvellous, entrepreneurship is a cool career too and you don’t necessarily need money. We started from nothing.”

That belief in starting small and supporting one another is something Marty carries into every part of his work. “As a local business owner, you know everybody, and you can depend on your community to help you when you need it,” he says. “And I offer the same thing back. We donate to just about every cause that comes our way, whether it’s offering spices or more major things.”

For Marty and his family, Wainwright is more than just a business location – it’s home. “I’ll always stay in Wainwright… I’m not looking to take over the world. I plan to stay right here and grow my business in this great, dependable and close-knit community.”

 “As a local business owner, you know everybody, and you can depend on your community to help you when you need it. And I offer the same thing back."