Today we’d like to introduce you to Loren Hernandez
Hi Loren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Honestly this all came to be as a covid project 3 years ago because I was growing chili peppers and had more than I could eat. So I learned how to make hot sauce out of it and people enjoyed it. Started researching Texas Cottage Foods law and found that hot sauce was one of the few products that can be made at home for consumption. My sister was my tester and pushed me into expanding into other sauces. Then she pushed me to start doing festivals only 4 months after starting this up. The small 3 sauce lineup has now grown into 2 seasonal, 6 year round, and 3 collaboration sauces which i bring out periodically throughout the year.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been mostly smooth, but I did have to learn that not everyone is out to help you as a small business owner. Some times intentions are for their own growth off of your name, product, or resources. Always have to keep your feelers out for intentions from what I have learned. Also, as the only employee of Hardcore Hot Sauce LLC, i am the researcher, manufacturer, bottler, labeler, sealer, promoter, seller, inventory specialist, and scheduler all while managing a day job, and being a husband and father of young children. If it wasn’t for my wife being so supportive, my sister for helping out with selling with me at events, and my art designer (@blobmorechairs on instagram) none of this would be possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of Hardcore Hot Sauce LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am a cottage foods hot sauce manufacturer, and I specialize in small batch hot sauce ranging from low heat high flavor to high heat high flavor. I ensure that all of my sauce is flavor first and spice second. Even my hottest sauce are flavor forward. I want people to have my sauce add to their food not over shadow the dish with heat and no flavor. I also ensure all of the artwork is as top knotch as my hot sauce with the help of the artist, and my friend, Rob Macias.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is going to my grandparents farm in Oklahoma for the summer, eating my grandpa’s bbq, and having giant fish fries for 4th of july. Basically my favorite childhood memories are all spending time with family.
Pricing:
- 12 dollars a bottle
- 3 for 33
- 4 for 40
- 5 for 48
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/hardcore_hotsaucehtx
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/hardcorehotsaucehtx
