Ken MacInnis took a passion and turned it into a business.
MacInnis, owner of the Angry Cock BBQ food truck, said that in fall 2024, he was notified that his position as category manager for Whole Foods was being eliminated.
MacInnis, of New Ipswich, said the layoff prompted him to reconsider his next move.
“I was trying to figure out what my next stage of life was going to be,” MacInnis said. “When I was severanced out of Whole Foods, I was 51, and I’d spent half my life working for one place. I started as a meat cutter, and made my career throughout the years. Being let go after that long, I wanted to do something benefiting myself.”
Luckily, MacInnis already had a passion: barbecue.
For MacInnis, barbecue wasn’t just a hobby — it was a competitive sport. He has competed in barbecue competitions at the state and regional levels, and in 2021 took part in the Jack Daniel’s World Championship as part of the House of Que team with Brandon Saldoni of Nashua.
In February 2025, MacInnis took the leap, buying a food trailer and opening for business, taking his barbecue on the road for food truck events and catering.
With the tagline “Barbecue for the Soul,” MacInnis’ first event turned no profit — he and his truck took part in a food truck night at Mascenic Regional High School to benefit the Phillips family and their son, Isaac Phillips, who at the time was battling cancer. MacInnis gave 100% of his proceeds to the Phillips family, but it served as proof of concept: He could serve good barbecue quickly.
Barbecue, by nature, requires low heat over a long time. MacInnis cooks his brisket and pulled pork for about 18 hours, meaning much of the cooking happens ahead of time — but it also means most orders can be turned around within minutes.
Among his truck’s staples are barbecue sandwiches; a loaded mac ‘n’ cheese with pulled pork, chicken or brisket; and a loaded sweet potato, available with pulled pork or chicken, or a vegetarian option with street corn and vegetables.
MacInnis said the truck has taken off in 2026, doing triple or more the business it did in its first year, with particular growth in catering. September is already shaping up to be his biggest month yet, with several weddings, catering for team appreciation week at five Whole Foods locations, and appearances at Auburn Old Home Day, the Hancock Farmers Market and area high school events.
While he’s still working in a different position at Whole Foods part-time, he said his goal is to make the food truck and catering his sole endeavor.
“I love having the ability to do something for myself, and know that my income is based on how much I put into it,” he said. “One hundred percent of what I get is from what I put into it. Owning something that’s yours and building a brand has been amazing.”
MacInnis said that while he’s enjoying watching the business grow, it’s really about watching people enjoy his food — something he’s loved since long before barbecue became his business.
“I get such satisfaction out of feeding people,” he said. “I like seeing people’s reactions when they eat our food.”
He hasn’t stopped competing, either. He secured a spot again this year in the Jack Daniel’s World Championship — this time with his own team, alongside his brother-in-law, Stefan Dettula, under the Angry Cock BBQ banner. MacInnis will travel to the championship in October.
Before that, the Angry Cock BBQ truck will be at Mascenic Regional High School on Aug. 21 for a fundraiser benefiting Boynton sports, and at New Ipswich Autumn Fest on Oct. 3 at Memorial Park.