Community Highlights: Meet Darren Tompkins of Headlock Hot Sauce

Today we’d like to introduce you to Darren Tompkins.

Hi Darren, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The origin of Headlock Hot Sauce started long ago, with me as a super 1980s wrestling fan. My heroes were all the big stars. Macho Man Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Hacksaw Jim Duggin, Ricky The Dragon Steamboat. It really didn’t matter who was wrestling, I ate it all up. I always thought there would be an outlet one day and then the pandemic lockdown of 2020 happened.

My next-door neighbor, Mike had given me a carrot-based hot sauce and I ate it on everything. When I tried to reorder it appeared the company didn’t exist anymore. So, since I had some personal time on my hands, I attempted to recreate and expand upon what I thought was close to the original. What resulted after a month of batch testing was a carrot-based hot sauce with a blend of jalapeños and habaneros that was delicious but not too hot.

I started giving samples away to friends along with a review request. It was not long before people started telling me they would buy it. In a stroke of incredible luck, the website www.headlockhotsauce.com was available! My childhood idea of pro wrestling being infused into my life was about to become a reality! A few days later I opened a bank account and I was in business. We are the very first pro-wrestling-themed hot sauce company!

I came up with two additional products, Hammerlock Jalapeño Lime and Suplex Super Hot Habanero, and commissioned a designer to come up with the company logo and labels for each flavor. My next step was to create a broad business plan so I had everything ready to go to approach potential partners to make it an easy sell.

It didn’t take long. I approached my old bud Taylor King Bertin, who is an award-winning Sales Director in the Medical Devices industry, and Kevin who had an MBA in Supply Chain to handle Business Operations. I would handle the Marketing and product creation.

My wife, Stephanie went to high school in KC, and we have a lot of friends and colleagues. Harley’s Hideaway was our first restaurant client to order our sauces by the gallon and be put on the menu!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road. I’m not a trained chef. Getting our recipes right and keeping them consistent is always a stress point for me. We cook, bottle, market, and sell it ourselves. There are no hands-off roles in this company. Everyone participates.

Kevin had to leave due to personal reasons and my wife, Stephanie has really stepped up to fill his role. She’s a master with numbers and has impeccable detail when it comes to keeping operations running.

Like a lot of companies in the food industry we are always worried about finding the supplies we need to keep going. Glass has been in short supply this year and that has affected other people we know as well.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Headlock Hot Sauce combines two very loud, boisterous, and creative ideas we are very fond of. Pro-wrestling and hot sauce are a natural fit, and we have already started featuring regional performers and created collaborations with Lions Pride Wrestling out of Bryan, TX.

Running this company is crazy fun a lot of the time and we create situations for a lot of comedy. You simply will not find a better taste of heat and flavor that will appeal to our 3 target audiences:

Hot sauce fans – We have your back when it comes to flavor and heat of all levels!

Pro wrestling fans – We live it and breathe it. Our prized possession is our championship belt!

Diet and fitness fans – Our products are low sugar, Keto-friendly, diabetic-friendly, gluten-free, and low calorie.

Our branding is like no other hot sauce on the market. SUPLEX YOUR TASTE BUDS is our rallying cry and our sauces hit you like an atomic leg drop off of the top rope!

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I was told by several folks that the hot sauce industry is a crowded market, as in there are a lot of hot sauce options out there. Just have a look in your local Hy-Vee or Piggly Wiggly. The main difference you see there and our products are the ingredients and the process for cooking.

Our marketing is top-notch, and we create our own marketing trends. If you are not ready to get to the next level it will pass you by. Like any other industry, you need project planning and capital. We started this company with no debt and a solid plan.

The craft market is crowded right now, but as time goes on and we grow that crowd will get smaller.

Pricing:

• 5 oz bottles of Hammerlock, Signature, or Suplex Super Hot are $8 each or 3 for $21
• 0 oz bottles of Hammerlock, Signature, or Suplex Super Hot are $13 each
• If you are lucky enough to score a Limited Edition 10 oz Scorpion Blend sauce, $18 each
• Ask us about wholesale pricing!

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.headlockhotsauce.com
• Instagram: @headlock_hot_sauce
• Facebook: Headlock Hot Sauce