Columbus, Ohio—June 25, 2018— CaJohns today announced it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Hot Shots Distributing of Charlotte, North Carolina. The transition includes moving production and operations to North Carolina by the end of June. The flagship store will remain in the North Market in Downtown Columbus; however, the Westerville retail shop will close on June 29.

Founded in 1996 by John “CaJohn” Hard, CaJohns Fiery Foods is a leading producer of small-batch gourmet hot sauces and salsas and has a sustained track record of growth with wholesale customers in all 50 states as well as exports worldwide accounting for 25-30% of annual sales.

CaJohns, a pioneer in the fiery foods industry, is the most awarded small-batch hot sauce manufacturer in the United States garnering over 500 national and international awards. Founder and President John “CaJohn” Hard is also an inaugural inductee of the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame and is referred to by many in the industry as the “Godfather.”

“The sale is bittersweet. I started this business from the ground-up and its part of me. However, it’s time for me to start the next chapter and am excited about a new journey,” stated Hard.

The sale to Hot Shots is a natural one. With over 25 years in the business, Hot Shots is the leading Fiery Foods distributors in the world and offers over 2,000 fiery products ranging from sauces to seasonings. “I have known Matt Heald [president of Hot Shots] for many years now, and he is a great fit to carry my passion and continue the CaJohns legacy,” stated Hard.

For more information and location, hours visit cajohns.com. The Westerville retail location and Corporate Headquarters at 816 Green Crest Drive will remain open through the last day on Friday, June 29.

About John Hard and the CaJohns Brand

CaJohns Fiery Foods got its start in 1996 and offers a variety of salsa, hot sauce, barbecue sauce, rubs, spice blends, mixes, and mustards. Cajun, Southwestern, Asian and Caribbean cuisines are all represented. All-natural and preservative free all items are carefully prepared in small batches and monitored to ensure a high level of quality and a consistent taste. Only the finest of ingredients are used. In fact, CaJohn processes fresh chiles every fall to use exclusively in his products. He refuses to use commercial pepper mash loaded with salt. This is only one of the reasons CaJohns products have fared very well in national competition, garnering over 250 first place international, national, and regional awards.