"Today hot sauce is on such a different level than the stuff
you find in your traditional grocery store, with varying heat levels
and interesting ingredients that identify with a certain area," says
Steve Seabury, Hot Sauce Expo organizer and owner of High River
Sauces. Ingredients like Korean gochujang, Thai Sriracha, Mexican
Cholula, North African harissa, and Portuguese piri piri are being
used in both traditional and innovative ways.
Poised for continued growth, IBISWorld, an industry and
market research organization, predicts that by 2020, hot sauce
production in the U.S. will be a $1.5 billion industry, led by the
McIlhenny Co.'s iconic Tabasco sauce.
The Consumer
"Hot sauce is clearly part of the diet of many U.S. consumers, and
it's a food that crosses gender, age, ethnicity, and income," says
Annie Roberts, vice president, SupplyTrack, NPD Group's monthly
benchmarking tracking service for foodservice professionals.
NPD's ongoing food and beverage market research reveals the
category spotlight
SPOTLIGHT ON NEW PRODUCTS
Here are offerings—from new sauces to products
infused with hot sauce—that are causing a stir with both
buyers and consumers around the country.
Bravado Spice Co. Jalapeño & Green Apple Hot Sauce.
Poblanos and jalapeños blend with green apple to create
a game-changing sauce that spices up any cornbread
recipe. bravadospice.com
Dave's Gourmet Creamy Ginger Citrus Sauce. A zesty
and moderately spiced hot sauce made with red jalapeños,
lime, and ginger, its creamy texture adds dimension
to favorite dishes. Non-GMO and preservative-free.
davesgourmet.com
Harwood Gold Burning Bush Maple Sriracha. The addition
of Michigan maple syrup gives this Asian condiment a
North American twist with a mix of five different peppers
plus garlic. Gluten-free. maple-syrup-michigan.com
High River Hot Sauce Cheeba Gold. Well-balanced,
medium to hot, Barbados-style mustard-based hot sauce
featuring yellow Scotch Bonnet and Fatalii peppers.
Peaches, brown sugar, and cumin give it its subtle, sweet
notes. highriversauces.com
Heartbreaking Dawns Artisan Foods Fervor Reaper
Chile Hot Sauce. Reaper Chile combines an all-natural
combination of orange, strawberries, and a touch of
coriander that complements the pepper's citrus notes.
heartbreakingdawns.com
Kitchen Garden Farm Sriracha. Made from certified
organic peppers grown on the company's farm, this
fermented Asian-style chili sauce comes in three varieties:
original, extra-hot habanero, and super-hot ghost pepper.
kitchengardenfarm.com
Pop Daddy Popcorn Hot Daddy. Non-GMO, local Michigan-
grown Deep Red Kernel corn that turns bright white is
popped in 100 percent pure olive oil, sprinkled with sea
salt, and infused with hot sauce. popdaddypopcorn.com
Pop! Gourmet The Original Huy Fong Sriracha Croutons.
Made with French baguettes and real dehydrated Huy
Fong Sriracha sauce, these croutons spice up any salad.
popgourmet.com
San Francisco Salt Co. Sriracha Gourmet Salt. Chimayo
peppers mixed with the heat of habaneros and savory
garlic creates a blend of spice and tang to use directly in
dishes or as a finishing salt. sfsalt.com
True Made Foods Veracha Hot Sauce. This company adds
vegetables to its medium-heat Asian-style sauce. Spinach,
butternut squash, and carrots act as natural sugar while
the addition of jalapeño, garlic, and cayenne give it its kick.
truemadefoods.com
Tubac Olive Oil Hibiscus Balsamic Hot Sauce. Made with
imported balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy, this sauce
is then cured with fresh Pequin peppers and hibiscus. It
spices up everything from burgers to vanilla ice cream.
tubacoliveoil.com
Bravado Spice Co. Jalapeño and
Green Apple Hot Sauce
76 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com