Michigan-Made Hot Sauce Snags Top Prize at Midwest Competition, Firing Up Sales, Availability of “Scotty O’Hotty” Brand Products

“The Ghost Sauce,” the latest delicious concoction from Dearborn-based Owens Family Foods LLC’s “Scotty O’Hotty” line of gourmet hot sauces, scared off all contenders to win first place in the prestigious annual Zestfest Midwest competition in late June.
  
The new flavor took the grand prize during a blind taste test of some of the nation’s best-known hot sauces at Zestfest Midwest, held June 28-30 at The Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.  The event tantalized attendees with hot sauces, barbeque sauces, salsas, spices, condiments, snacks, and other specialty foods and beverages from around the country.

“We are extremely proud to not only be made in Michigan, but to score a big win for our state at this event and show the country the good things made and talents we have here,” said Scott Owens, president of Owens Family Foods LLC, owner the Scotty O’Hotty brand.  “The award exceeded our expectations, and we are humbled to have competed against some formidable contestants.”

In addition to Zestfest Midwest, the Scotty O’Hotty brand placed in the top six at this year’s Scovie Awards in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and was featured at the 2013 Chef’s Challenge at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls.

Two weeks after capturing attention in Ohio, Owens representatives officially unveiled “The Ghost Sauce” at Westborn Market in Livonia’s “Meet Michigan” event.  Berkley-based Westborn sponsored the July 13-14 event to showcase dozens of Michigan-made products featured at its three metro Detroit locations.

“We created our products to fill a void in the hot sauce market.  Scotty O’Hotty brand sauces are handmade with the freshest ingredients, are low in sodium, but are not ‘blow your mind’ hot,” said Owens.  “We want everyone to enjoy our unique made-in-Michigan flavors and appreciate the perfect combination of heat and flavor.”

Backed by these latest developments, the company and it’s flagship brand are poised for continued growth as they focus on increasing product development, distribution, and promotion. 

"We believe that our customer base exceeds more than just the spicy food lovers,” said Suzi Owens, the company’s vice president.  “Our sauces are versatile products that will add zip and boost flavor to your everyday recipes."

Owens Family Foods LLC was founded in 2011 in Dearborn Heights and publicly launched in January, 2013, by Dearborn natives Scott and Suzi Owens.  The company features three varieties of gourmet hot sauce: Scotty O’Hotty Premium Habanero Sauce (hot), Premium Pepper Sauce (mild), and the new, award-winning The Ghost Sauce.

All Owens Family Foods LLC products are manufactured with premium ingredients and to the highest standards at The Culinary Studio in Southfield.  They are available throughout metro Detroit at all Westborn Market and Hiller’s stores, along with other independent retail locations, and online via the company’s secure website.

For more information, visit www.scottyohotty.com, or connect and engage on Facebook.