They say Lana Turner was discovered at a soda fountain.

Now, Uncle Gene has been discovered at a Cracker Barrel.

That’s right, Uncle Gene’s Backwoods Pretzels of TC have made the big time. They will be making an appearance in the movie Tooth Fairy 2, starring Larry the Cable Guy, whose character has a pretzel addiction.

According to Fidelma Magill, the art department coordinator for Tooth Fairy 2, the pretzels got their co-starring role as a result of their availability at Cracker Barrel restaurants.

“We were looking for some product placement for a southern, family-friendly setting,” said Magill. “The set director went to Cracker Barrel, and Uncle Gene’s [pretzels] were there.”

The principals at Uncle Gene’s – Susan and Jerry Timmer, and Joyce and Gene Van Koevering – are tickled to have their wares on display in the film, which will be released direct to DVD later this year from FOX’s family entertainment division.

“It’s certainly interesting how we got it into places we shouldn’t, from Cracker Barrel to the movies,” said Gene Van Koevering, for whom the pretzels are named.

Van Koevering first came up with the garlic dill pretzels from a recipe he’d been using for six years. Eventually he and Joyce enlisted the aid of their friends the Timmers, and together the partners developed a small business plan to begin selling the pretzels around the Traverse City area.

Success bred success, and within a year the crew added four flavors: Butter Flavor, Cherry Chipotle, Cinnamon and Sugar, and Buffalo Wing. The demand for the pretzels soon outstripped their ability to make the pretzels in their facility on Cass Road, and so they are currently being made in Bay City, though the sales and R&D offices are still in Traverse City. Van Koevering says plans are in the works to move the pretzel production facility back to TC once the volume hits a point where it makes financial sense to buy the necessary equipment.

Magill said the pretzels are on display in four of the movie’s sets: Larry’s kitchen, next to his bed, at Metro Lanes Bowling, and McKible’s Auto Repair. That last is an in-joke, as director Alex Zamm creates something in each of his films named McKible after a college friend.

While the pretzels are prominently featured in each of these sets, Magill says there is no guarantee they will all make it intact through the editing process. Hollywood is rife with tales of actors whose best work ended up on the cutting room floor. Here’s hoping Uncle Gene makes the final cut.