Mike Lucia's Journey From Bartender to Founder of Mike's Hot Honey Empire

The Story Behind Mike's Hot Honey

Mike Lucia is the founder of Mike's Hot Honey, a popular chili infused honey that has taken the food world by storm. Back in 2004, Mike was working as a bartender at a pizzeria in Brooklyn when he had the idea to combine chili peppers and honey to create a unique topping for pizza. Being passionate about food and flavors, Mike started experimenting with different chili and honey combinations in his home kitchen after work. Finally, he landed on the perfect blend of Brazilian chilis and wildflower honey that brought just the right amount of heat and sweet.

From Bar Backroom to Gourmet Staple

After months of letting his friends and family sample his creations, Mike finally brought a jar of his hot honey into work. It quickly became the staff's preferred topping and a favorite special at the bar. As word spread, Mike started getting requests from other restaurants and pizzerias in Brooklyn to sample his hot honey. Its popularity grew exponentially when the New York Times wrote about this unique chili-infused honey that was taking over Brooklyn pizza parlors. Soon, Mike's Hot Honey was being sold in gourmet stores across New York City.

The Explosive Growth of Mike’s Hot Honey

Fueled by glowing press and word of mouth hype, Mike’s Hot Honey sales skyrocketed. The demand was so high that Mike moved production out of his home kitchen into a commercial kitchen. He also trademarked the name “Mike’s Hot Honey” and registered an official company. Orders were soon pouring in from across the United States and Mike started selling his honey on his website so he could ship jars anywhere.

The versatile honey that could perfectly balance sweet and heat quickly became a staple ingredient for both restaurants and home cooks. From pizza drizzles to chicken glazes to cocktail mixers, foodies loved experimenting with Mike’s signature Hot Honey. Well-known chefs started incorporating into their dishes and recommending it in interviews. In 2017, Mike’s Hot Honey won Sofi Gold Awards for best condiment and best new product.

The Mike’s Hot Honey Empire Today

Over 15 years since that first fateful batch of honey, Mike’s Hot Honey has grown into a condiment empire. The fiery honey sweetener is now sold in over 5,000 grocery locations across the United States and ships to over 20 different countries. After consecutive years of 100% sales growth, Mike’s Hot Honey rakes in an estimated $10 million in annual sales today.

New Hot Honey Products

Mike is constantly innovating with his hot honey and has expanded the company’s offerings over the years. Some examples include:

• Hot Honey Squeezers - Single serve honey packets for on-the-go use
• Hot Honey Stingers - Pure chili blended concoctions without the honey
• Hot Honey Barbecue Sauces - Sweet and spicy BBQ sauces
• Hot Honey Mustards - Honey mustards blended with chili peppers

The Future Looks Bright for Mike’s Hot Honey

Mike Lucia’s journey from bartending to running a major food brand is an inspirational story for aspiring entrepreneurs. He took a simple idea born in a Brooklyn bar backroom and turned it into a product loved and used by millions of people every day. Even after growing into a $10 million dollar company, Mike's Hot Honey still feels authentic like a small batch family recipe.

Mike has built an impressively scalable chili-infused honey brand while still retaining full control and ownership. He continues to innovate with new hot honey spin-offs and is constantly getting inspiration from his hometown Brooklyn’s dynamic food scene. With its addicting flavor profile and the passionate food community rallying behind it, Mike’s Hot Honey seems poised to continue its explosive growth for years to come.

FAQs

How did Mike's Hot Honey get started?

Mike Lucia first had the idea to blend chili peppers and honey while working as a bartender at a pizzeria in Brooklyn in 2004. He started experimenting with different pepper and honey combinations before finally creating his signature blend of Brazilian chilis and wildflower honey.

What makes Mike's Hot Honey unique?

Mike's Hot Honey stands out for its versatile sweet heat flavor profile. The honey's texture also makes it an ideal drizzling and mixing sauce. Foodies love Mike's Hot Honey's mom-and-pop origins and that it's still made with Mike's original small-batch recipe.

What foods does Mike's Hot Honey pair well with?

Mike's Hot Honey goes great with all kinds of foods. Popular uses include drizzling on pizza, chicken, vegetables, and mixing into dressings, glazes and cocktails. The honey's sweet and spicy kick balances beautifully with fatty, savory flavors.

Where can I buy Mike's Hot Honey?

Mike's Hot Honey is sold in over 5,000 grocery locations in the US as well as online at mikeshothoney.com. The honey ships to over 20 countries and is a staple ingredient found in many restaurants' kitchens.