Benjamin John & Harbour Hot Sauce

In this episode of Chamber Chat, Chris sits down with Ben, the founder of Harbour Hot Sauce, to talk about how a passion project born during the pandemic turned into a growing local business.From experimenting in his kitchen while living out west to building a recognizable brand across Ontario, Ben shares the journey behind his small-batch hot sauce company—rooted in creativity, persistence, and a love of bold flavour. He dives into the challenges of starting and scaling a food business, from sourcing ingredients and navigating regulations to breaking into markets and retail spaces.Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at the craft of hot sauce making, including Ben’s iterative recipe process, flavour inspiration, and the story behind his signature lineup—like raspberry pineapple, honey lime, jalapeño lime, and mango peach.The conversation heats up with a live taste test, featuring both fan favourites and an ultra-spicy, unreleased ghost pepper creation. Ben also shares what’s next for the brand, including new flavours, limited-edition drops, and his long-term vision of opening a production facility and storefront.Whether you’re a foodie, entrepreneur, or local business supporter, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a little bit of spice.