Immediate ReleaseJanuary 10th, 2016

The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Final Ballot Announcement

 The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame is back and commissioner Steve Seabury of High River Sauces will conduct the induction ceremony live at the 4th annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo in Brooklyn, NY on April 23rd at 2 PM. This year the Hall of Fame will induct 5 people who have been very instrumental in the Hot Sauce industry. The inducted class of 2016 will receive a distinctive Red Jacket, Hall of Fame Ring and will be enshrined legendary of honors into the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame.
To be eligible for the nominating or voting process, a person must operate within the fiery foods industry for a minimum of 3 years. These people also known as the Selection Committee, consists of hot sauce companies, retailers, distributors, exporters, chile pepper growers, media and restaurateurs who specialize if spicy foods and hot sauce. The Selection Committee will be polled by email from the Hall of Fame’s Senators Board in which the board will eventually narrow the Selection Committee’s ballots down to the final list to 10.

After months of debating and voting from the Selection Committee, the committee have narrowed down their final nominations to some of the biggest and brightest names in the industry.

The Final Ballot Nominations:

1. Alvin Baumer – Crystal Hot Sauce: Started in 1923, Crystals has become a Louisiana institution and is one of the fastest growing condiment manufacturers in the country with over 4.5 million gallons of hot sauce each year.

2. Blair Lazar – Blair’s: 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.

3. David Ashley – Mad Dog: Owner of Ashley Foods. David has been creating hot sauce for well over 20 plus years and was one of the first to sell extract sauces with his 357 Mad Dog Hot Sauce.

4. Dave Lutes -Hot Shots Distribution: Founder of Hot Shots Distribution. One of the original hot sauce distributors and one of the biggest. Still operating for almost 20 years.

5. 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”.

6. Jacob Frank – Founder of Franks Red Hot. The first bottle was produced in 1920 and later became the secret ingredient for the Buffalo Wings in Buffalo, NY. “I Put That $#!t on Everything!”

7. Jose-Luis Saavedra, Sr. – Tapatio Salsa Picante Hot Sauce: Started in 1971 in Vernon, CA. Celebrating 45 years of making in 2016 it has now grown into one of the biggest family owned hot sauce companies in the country. It’s a sauce that’s…very saucy!

8. 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!

9. Sam Garner – Texas Pete: This hot sauce was introduced to the world in 1929 and is now the 3rd largest selling hot sauce in the country.

10. Si Brown – Louisiana Brand Hot Sauce: Founded in New Iberia, Louisiana in 1928. The brand now features the word, “Original” in its name along with the famous Red Dot. The hot sauce is known for being full of flavor without an overwhelming amount of heat.

For More Information Please Contact Steve Seabury: steve@highriversauces.com  

NYC Hot Sauce Expo: http://www.NYCHotSauceExpo.com 

Hot Sauce Hall of Fame: Website Coming Soon