Mike and Carmen McCracken
Mike and Carmen McCracken
40 Under 40' 2022
Age: 37 and 35, respectively
Company Name: FIRECRACKER PEPPER SAUCE
Position In The Company: Founders CEO & COO
Bio: Meet Mike and Carmen McCracken, the husband and wife, Founders of FIRECRACKER PEPPER SAUCE, a Toronto-based food manufacturing company, that crafts premium Trinidadian style pepper sauces in small batches. Their hot sauces are all natural, vegan, gluten-free, and proudly made in Ontario without the use of additives or preservatives.
The idea for FIRECRACKER PEPPER SAUCE was incepted as a result of their intercultural wedding. Mike is Canadian and Carmen is Indo -Trinidadian and they incorporated both of their cultures at their wedding. They wore a combination of traditional Western wedding dress and suit, and traditional Indian clothing - a lehengha and sherwani - played music and included food from both cultures. For their wedding ‘favour’ they made jars of Trini style pepper sauces from Carmen’s family, and gave them away to their guests. After the wedding they received many compliments and inquiries about the sauces. Recognizing the gap in the market, they started their company with the goal of introducing people to authentic, traditional Trini style pepper sauces made with only quality ingredients such as premium ‘real’ peppers, and fresh herbs.
Trinidad has a rich history in the art of crafting pepper sauces which dates back to over 150 years to when the Indians were brought to the island bringing with them their culture, food and spices… these recipes are rarely documented and they are not mass produced. Rather, they’re only tough through family traditions. Combining Mike’s experience as a professional engineer, and Carmen’s training as a lawyer, the couple standardized these age old culinary traditions, and are introducing North Americans to a food heritage that is over 150 years old. The hot sauces can be found throughout Canada at over 300 stores, including LOBLAWS, TJX (Winners/Homesense), Metro, and specialty stores in Ontario like Chilly Chiles & the Blue Banana.
Having left Trinidad at 8 years old for a better life in Canada, Carmen still has close family living in Trinidad in St Mary’s - Moruga, home of the famous ‘Moruga Scorpion’ pepper. With Carmen and Mike’s help, Carmen’s sister has started a pepper farm, providing much needed jobs for this village. The long term goal for this farm is to gain some control over their pepper supply, while also contributing to the economic development of the local community - a dream that the couple envisioned since selling their first bottle of hot sauce.
FIRECRACKER has won over 6 awards for their 4 sauces - their mildest ‘Mango Madness’ and their hottest ‘Bazodee’ (Trini slang for ‘Confused’) are both double award winners! FIRECRACKER was recognized as a rising Food Manufacturer in Ontario, placing as a Top 3 Finalist in the 2022 Ontario Made Awards.
Both Mike and Carmen are active members in their local community - Mike has volunteered serving on the board of directors at a Toronto condominium, and also ran a local church food bank. Carmen volunteers at a pro bono legal clinic in Ontario, helping promote access to justice to individuals who need access to a lawyer, but cannot afford one.
Website URL: www.firecrackerpepper.com
Social Media URL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firecrackerpepper/