Greater Akron is home to several food and beverage manufacturers with reputations know far beyond its borders. A local flavor with a kick of entrepreneurship is all it took for some of these products to be satisfying treats found across the country, and in some cases around the world. Here is just a sample of Greater Akron's best-known products:

Akron-based Ohio Pure Foods joined together with companies from Florida and Connecticut to create Country Pure Foods, Inc., an independent juice processor. Ardmore Farms and Natural Country juices and Glacier Valley bottled water are found in stores and at food service vendors nationwide. One of Country Pure's three manufacturing facilities is located in Akron.

For 65 years, Akron-based Gardner Pie Co. has been family owned and operated, producing fruit, cream and specialty pies. Gardner makes its pies with real sugar, fresh fruit, kosher dairy products and no preservatives. Gardner pies are baked in the company's 48,000-square-foot Akron operation and distributed to upscale bakeries, shops and food service vendors across the nation.

Even with its world headquarters in Akron, More Than Gourmet upholds its French heritage. Based on the creations of Chef Master Auguste Escoffier, More Than Gourmet produces authentic, old world French sauces and stocks that are ready-to-use so consumers can cook like master chefs in their own kitchens. The company's products have received acclaim from master chefs, iron chefs, food critics and cookbook authors.

Founded in 1936, Strickland's Frozen Custard was created from an Akron local's search for the perfect recipe and the perfect ice cream machine. Finding both, Strickland's now operates locations from California to South Carolina. The original Strickland's Frozen Custard stand is now a landmark in Akron, still producing its legendary homemade ice cream.

Wolf Creek Vineyards has been producing Ohio-grown wines at its winery in Norton in Summit County since 1980. Originally only producing three types of wine, Wolf Creek now annually produces 9,000 cases of 17 different wines, all on its 35-acre farm. The Winery at Wolf Creek's award-winning wines are sold on the premises and in local stores.

The Thirsty Dog Brewing Company is the Akron-based producer of award-winning beers, including such brews as Siberian Night, Hoppus Maximus and California Crisp. The brewery's goal is to offer unique flavor alternatives to large, mass-market beers, and since 1997, the Thirsty Dog has been unleashing its distinct-hand crafted beers in 11 states across the Midwest and northeastern United States.