SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. – From a Clearwater kitchen to a Major League Baseball team’s stadium, it’s been a remarkable three years for a local, family-owned hot sauce maker in Pinellas County.
Carlos’ Consuming Fire Hot Sauce was first sold at Tampa Bay farmers markets in 2021.
“I never imagined it would evolve from something I just gave to friends and family for my enjoyment to what it is today,” said owner Carlos Sanchez.
Until 2022, Carlos’ Consuming Fire Hot Sauce was the official hot sauce of the Clearwater Thrashers, the Single A affiliate team of the Philadelphia Phillies. It wasn’t long before they were called up to the Major Leagues. It is now the only hot sauce offered by the Philadelphia Phillies.
“It’s known as the city of brotherly love, and I can tell you what I saw was the excitement,” Sanchez said. “Seeing the fans enjoying the sauce, all I can say is we were very emotional, very emotional.”
Sanchez and his family were invited to Citizens Bank Park this summer to see the team and their sauce in action.
“We could see our logo on the fans’ eyes. You know the saying: When a man cries, they usually say it’s because of the air conditioning. That’s what it felt like,” said Sanchez.
However, when Sanchez returned home, the first thing he did was visit all the businesses here in Tampa Bay, like Spice of the Harbor in Safety Harbor, which gave him the opportunity to go from small business to the big leagues.
“We are standing in a store that was actually the first to stock our sauce at our first event,” said Sanchez.
Todd Anderson, owner of Spice of the Harbor, said he couldn’t be prouder of Sanchez’s accomplishments.
“It’s incredible. I saw your first interview with him from his home, in his kitchen, and now look at him: he’s in a billion-dollar stadium and the only one offered there. That shows incredible respect,” Anderson said.
“I believe that as small businesses we should help and support each other. The fact that they took this opportunity with us has definitely opened more doors for them,” Sanchez said.
The question now is: How many other stadiums will offer Carlos’ Consuming Fire Hot Sauce?
“I have a lot of thoughts going through my head. I’ve been in touch with the Rowdies, I’ve been in touch with the Rays. We’ll see how those conversations unfold, but there’s a lot of potential,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez hopes to be an inspiration to small businesses everywhere – because if you go all out, you can hit a home run.
“I feel like it’s a simple whisper, but I hope Carlos’ Consuming Fire Hot Sauce resonates,” Sanchez said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a consumer warning about replacement airbags that have killed at least three people in the past year. I-Team investigator Adam Walser found that one of the victims was a young Florida mother whose family has filed a lawsuit claiming a counterfeit Chinese airbag exploded in her car and killed her.
Exploding airbag kills mother in Florida and highlights potential dangers in used cars
