Mike Kurtz, Founder, Mike’s Hot Honey
Few brands boast the reach and influence across the food industry as Mike’s Hot Honey, saturating supermarket shelves and restaurant menus through partnerships with the biggest names in food, from Bush’s Beans to KFC – as well as some unconventional collaborations in the past year (see: Burt’s Bees lip balm). Founder Mike Kurtz conceived the condiment in college more than two decades ago and has built a business with $60 million in annual sales while touching off a sweet-heat trend that has inspired a number of knockoffs. In July, Mike’s Hot Honey debuted its first national advertising campaign, dubbed “Drizzle the Mike’s,” to build even more buzz for this trailblazing brand.