Parm and Joyce Rai, the dynamic duo behind Gladstone Sauce, are crafting a flavorful revolution with their small-batch hot sauces. Born out of a quest for authentic Scotch Bonnet heat without additives, their family business has become a local favourite. Catering to those who crave heat, spice, and premium flavours, Gladstone Sauce is all about elevating meals without compromising health. You can find their sauces in stores across the Fraser Valley or conveniently order online, shipping to Canada and the USA.
What is your business called and what does it do?
Gladstone Sauce. We craft small-batch hot sauce using the freshest local ingredients, focusing on whole foods and premium peppers. With a background in health, we’re dedicated to creating a cleaner alternative, free from chemicals and preservatives. Experience the taste of pure flavour without the junk.
What made you want to do this work?
Parm grew up in England where scotch bonnet hot sauce was quite popular. We could not find a brand here that had that great heat and flavour he missed from England, without harsh chemicals and fillers. We began making our own at home and it has now grown into an amazing family business.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
The problem we aimed to solve with our business was the lack of authentic Scotch Bonnet hot sauce in Canada. As a family-run operation, we recognized the opportunity to fill this gap by creating small batches of hot sauce using local ingredients whenever possible. Our goal is to bring the bold heat and flavour of Scotch Bonnet peppers to our community, offering a genuine taste experience while supporting local producers.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Everyone who doesn’t want boring bland food!
Our clientele love heat and spice, but also want to add depth and flavour to their meals. Our sauces keep them coming back for more.
Our sauces are also for those who prioritize quality and health, offering products that are gluten-free, keto-friendly, and free from MSG and preservatives. With a commitment to clean eating, our demographic includes foodies, health-conscious consumers, and anyone seeking flavorful additions to their meals without compromising on dietary preferences or health goals.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Our sauces are currently in 8 stores around the Fraser Valley, or you can purchase them online. We ship across Canada and USA. We are looking to grow our retail business and would love to connect with more stores to carry our products.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
We have a retailer list on our website that you can check out, or purchase online and we will ship them to you!
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
We love it when customers send us messages and connect on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok! Engaging with our communities is one of our favourite parts of growing this business.
We do get a lot of great questions, but I would say the most common question we get selling hot sauce is ‘How hot is it?’
My answer is that it is hot sauce, so it’s hot, but not painfully hot. Blissfully hot.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part of our family business is having our kids involved and watching us work hard to achieve our goals. Our kids are very hands-on involved in the labelling of our products. Our daughter has the neatest writing out of all of us, so she is in charge of writing our batch numbers by hand on every bottle. They are so proud of our Brand and product. They are also a great help in selling at markets and events and are so creative in coming up with reel and video ideas on TikTok.
Worst part, none yet!
Where can we follow you?
All the social media channels @gladstonesauce on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
You can also add yourself to our mailing list via our website, we do monthly giveaways and exclusive recipes.
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Meeting local vendors at markets has been such a treat. A few of my spicy friends are:
And for something sweet, our local go-to’s are:
