Rising Stars: Meet Michael Killik

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Killik. 

Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Killik Hot Sauce Company is owned and operated by me, Michael Killik: veteran, father of four daughters, stroke, and heart attack survivor. In my previous life, I taught middle school science, which is what gave me the passion to discover the scientific process of fermentation! After my stroke 15 years ago, I had to make a career change into restaurant management, where my passion for food blended with my passion for science. The last straw, per se, was when I had a heart attack in the same week as my father. I survived my father didn’t. After surviving the heart attack, I decided I had to change my way of life but loved hot sauce! I researched that most hot sauces have very high sodium levels and that this could’ve been a contributing factor to my heart attack. Having been dabbling in my own hot sauce making, I found that what I was creating was a better tasting, better-looking, and much healthier hot sauce! With this belief that I was doing better for people struggling with their diet like had been, I started Killik Hot Sauce Company! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not! Covid and ensuing quarantine was a major roadblock! The SBA (who it seemed was giving money to every small business) did not give my company any money whatsoever! Which I thought was weird with me being a veteran! Thankfully my 40+ small businesses and mail order kept us alive until we got a major contract with Giant Eagle! 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We believe in celebrating everybody! We are not just about Hot Sauce! And we specialize in guerrilla marketing, we try and do anything that hasn’t been tried yet, or that is not typical! You won’t see many pictures of our Hot Sauce with food unless one of our fans posts it. Because everybody does that, that’s boring! We want to wake the public up, have them think for themselves, educate themselves! We believe in guerrilla marketing! 

What does success mean to you?
I can’t say it any better than Emerson, in fact, this is on the bottom of all of my emails! What is success? 

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded! 

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Contact Info:

• Email: Michael@killikhsc.com
• Website: https://www.killikhsc.com/
• Instagram: @killikhsc

Image Credits
Megan Galehouse