Author: Scott Roberts

I’ll begin this post by saying that Steve Seabury, owner of High River Sauces and producer of the NYC Hot Sauce Expo, “gets it”.

I’ve singled Seabury out as a stellar example of someone who not only is a well-liked member of the specialty food community, but also someone who knows how to effectively market himself and his efforts to heights achieved by few others in the fiery foods industry.

Yes, there are a dozen and one ways to market yourself in today’s multi-pronged society, and I urge everyone to pursue every avenue they can. Yet there exists a scarcely-utilized method of promotion that few in the hot sauce or BBQ world even think about: the press release.

Without fail, Seabury will send press releases and news for all of his ventures. He truly understands the effectiveness that a well-written and info-packed news blast can give him and his business. I urge a lot more of you to do the same!

I want to post up any news, announcements, press releases, events, contest wins, or anything that would be of great interest to the bulk of national fiery foods and BBQ fans!

News from Dave DeWitt:

“As many of you know, I was the founding editor of Chile Pepper magazine from 1987 to 1996. I was never the owner or publisher of that magazine. After I left, the magazine was bought and sold about five or six times until it ended up in the hands of McAby Media in Stafford, Texas. They have done a wonderful job publishing the magazine and a few years ago started exhibiting at our national show here in Albuquerque.

 

 

In March at the show this year, I had a discussion with Rick McMillen, the former publisher of Chile Pepper, who’s now ‘retired’ but still writes articles and columns for the magazine. His son, Sir McMillen, is now the publisher. Rick and I discussed the possibility of the magazine sponsoring the show, and Rick suggested that I write a proposal and if he liked it, he would pass it on to Sir. Yesterday, Sir and I came to an agreement, and now Chile Pepper magazine is an official sponsor of the show, and I’ll probably be writing again for the magazine I helped to found 29 years ago! It really is like a dream come true for me, and Sir has issued this statement: ‘Chile Pepper magazine is thrilled to be an official sponsor of the National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show. It only makes sense that two revered companies within the chilehead community join forces. Together we can continue to build our own brands, reach more of the ever growing chilehead community, and expose more and more Americans to the spicy lifestyle.'”

Link: http://www.dave-dewitt.com/2016/05/05/chile-pepper-magazine-to-sponsor-national-fiery-foods-bbq-show/

The NYC Hot Sauce Expo is proud to announce the 2016 Screaming Mi Mi Award winners. With hundreds of entries the winners were selected by blind taste test by New Yorks finest and brightest  in the culinary industry. The panel consisted of chefs from FOX, CBS and Food Networks, Food Critics from NYC Newspapers, Bloggers, Magazines, Hot Sauce Retailers, and some of NYC’s Top Chefs. The Screaming Mi Mi Awards have been creating a large industry buzz within the Hot Sauce Community. Past winners have received features on TV, magazines, newspapers creating a profile that has lead for their product distributed by wholesalers and national retail outlets.

This year’s top honors goes out to Ghost Scream Hot Sauce for winning the Grand World Champion. The panel of judges gave his Shost Scream Hot Sauce the top honors of all entries.

Here are your 2016 Screaming Mi Mi Award Winners.

Immediate Release

March 29^th, 2016

Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Class of 2016

The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Foundation is very proud to announce the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Class of 2016. The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame will induct 5 people all of which have been very instrumental in the fiery foods. After months of balloting, with just shy of 500 voters, the NYC Hot Sauce Expo is now proud to announce and present the Class of 2016.

This year’s group are the biggest and brightest names in the industry. One of Legend. One of inspiration. Here is your Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

1. Blair Lazar – Blair’s Sauces and Snacks: Heating up over 31 countries, printed in six languages, and Guinness World Record certified with the hottest product created, Blair’s passion for peppers is ever present. It is what fuels the fiery phenomena that’s called the Death Sauce.
2. David Tran – Huy Fong Foods (Sriracha Sauce): Started in 1980 and has grown to be the leader in Asian Hot Sauce with his Sriracha Sauce also known to hot sauce fans as the “Rooster Sauce”.
3. Jacob Frank – Founder of Frank’s Red Hot and one of the biggest selling hot sauces in the country. Frank’s RedHot cayenne pepper sauce was used as the secret ingredient for the first ever Buffalo Wings in Buffalo, New York, putting it on the map and starting the flavor craze that has led to consumers obsession with all things Buffalo-flavor.
4. Marie Sharp – Marie Sharp’s & the Original Melinda’s: Owner Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods Ltd. – Started making sauce in the early 80’s and actually was the creator of Melinda’s sauces. Her sauce is the quintessential Central American hot sauce awesome flavor and great heat!
5. Sam Garner – Texas Pete: This hot sauce was introduced to the world in 1929 and is now the 3^rd largest selling hot sauce in the country.

The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame enshrinement…