Podcasts

From Side Hustle to Shelf Staple: The Building of Mike’s Hot Honey

| March 24, 2026

| March 24, 2026

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How does a trip to Brazil, a stint in the music industry, and an apprenticeship at a pizzeria all come together to form a new style of condiment that would take the world by storm? Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike’s Hot Honey, shares the story of his company’s founding, how the swicy trend is propelling his business, and how CPG partnerships continue to inspire the brand’s fans. 

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More about Mike’s Hot Honey:
Mike’s Hot Honey has been elevating everyday food experiences since 2010, when its first drizzle on a pizza at Paulie Gee’s in Brooklyn sparked a nationwide sensation, creating a new category of pizza topping. 

Mike started selling his hand-made hot honey bottles to the pizzeria’s patrons and local businesses, fueled by popular demand. Today, Mike’s Hot Honey can be found in thousands of restaurants and retailers across the country, with the same original recipe inside. Using 100% pure honey infused with real chili peppers, its one-two flavor punch of sweetness then heat makes any dish more dynamic, from the original pairing on pepperoni pizza to chicken, cheese and charcuterie, vegetables, ice cream, dressings and marinades, cocktails, and much more. 

More about Mike Kurtz:
Born and raised in Amherst, MA,  Mike Kurtz graduated from Umass-Amherst in 2005.  After college he embarked on a career in the music business in NYC where he worked in A&R and Music Supervision. His passion for pizza led him to become a pizza apprentice at Paulie Gee’s pizzeria in Brooklyn where he began sharing his homemade Hot Honey for customers to drizzle atop their pizzas in 2010. Folks started asking for ‘Mike’s Hot Honey’ to take home, so Mike began bottling and selling it off the bar at the restaurant and Mike’s Hot Honey Inc. was born.  16 years later, Mike is still based in Brooklyn, NY and Mike’s Hot Honey has become a household staple, featured at tens of thousands of retailers and restaurants across the country. 

Learn more at: http://www.mikeshothoney.com.