About Screaming Chimp Chilli Sauces
All Aboard The Chimp Train to Heatsville
Serendipity is a Wonderful Thing
How It All Began
Hello Chimpions of the world. This is the story of how we came to be.
Making Screaming Chimp Chilli sauces is my 43rd job since leaving school in 1990. I've done everything from silk screen printing to cooking, running pubs, to rave dancing in the 1990's. I've bottled wine and been a window cleaner, done warehouse work, stage lighting and marquee erecting.
In 2015 when I wanted to take my own life due to suffering from depression, I needed help. My friend Paul kindly gave me some of his chilli seedlings and said, "Grow them mate, they may take your mind off things!"
A couple of months later my sister, Emily, asked me to make a "Man Vs Food" challenge sauce for a chicken wing eating competition she wanted to do at university for charity, so I made a sauce that was 40% chilli and called it "Mouth Fucka" (as that's what it had just done to me!)
A scaled back version of this is now the Original Hot sauce.
The Name Was Born
In October 2015, the 'Screaming Chimp' name was born when some friends Kelly and Keith asked us to visit them in Nerja, Spain and said "bring some of that sauce you've been talking about". After tasting it, they said; "This is wicked! This is what you should do with your life - make sauce! But you can't call it that mate."
I LOVED the idea, but I could not think of what to call it and as Mrs Chimp is short and I am curly, I briefly imagined the two of us on the label with it called "Short and Curly's Hot Sauce", but lets face it...no one is wanting short and curlys on their dinner ha ha ha.
However, that serendipitous moment came along when I was teaching Kelly and Keith's children how to blow on a blade of grass between two thumbs to make that strange noise, we all know! I shouted, "That sounds like a screaming chimp!" That was when I knew SCREAMING CHIMP would be the name for my chilli sauce.
That afternoon, we went to a Brazilian restaurant in Nerja where I came up with the Pineapple sauce, to appear after Mrs Chimp told me that pineapple aids digestion and makes a great marinade as it has enzymes which break down protein in it, plus the Malaga area is world renowned for growing mango, papaya, bell peppers, so the Mango and Papaya sauce was my ode to the day we came up with the Screaming Chimp name.
We bought the domain names sat there at the dinner table, then trademarked "Screaming Chimp" on our return to England, only to receive the certificate on my Birthday in February 2016.
Our Journey
The Chimp Train to Heatsville
From kitchen experiments to international acclaim
The Journey Begins
We launched in June 2016 and became a limited company a month later in July 2016.
Going Global
Gained two Great Taste awards from the Guild of Fine Food, shipped to our first Chimpions in Australia and USA.
- •Great Taste Awards
- •International Shipping
- •Fenwick Food Hall
Award-Winning Excellence
Won 25% of the UK Chilli Sauce Awards and were picked up by Kew Gardens.
- •UK Chilli Sauce Awards
- •Kew Gardens
- •Zed Bias Collaboration
Growing the Troop
Supplied England's best pizza restaurant (Dough and Brew) and expanded across Europe.
- •40,000+ Bottles Sold
- •European Expansion
- •Chimpotle at Trade Shows
Thriving Through Challenge
Featured in BBC Good Food Magazine and welcomed Baby Chimp to the family.
- •BBC Good Food
- •Belgium & Netherlands
- •Baby Chimp Born
Recognition & Growth
Won Best Condiment Brand of the North and gained another Great Taste Award.
- •Best Condiment Brand
- •Great Taste Award
- •150ml Bottles
- •Jones The Grocer UAE
International Expansion
Houses of Parliament showcase, US trademark, and back in Fenwick Food Hall.
- •Houses of Parliament
- •US Trademark
- •Fenwick Return
- •Paris Stockist
The Story Continues...
We'd love our Troop of Chimp's to swing on as many branches as they can the world over, so are now looking to expand our supply of Natural, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan and vegetarian friendly Screaming Chimp Chilli Sauces into different markets.
Just remember to Keep on Chimpin' and Scream If You Wanna Go Hotter
#Keeponchimpin and #Screamifyouwannagohotter
p.s. I will say this though.
If it wasn't for the support of Mrs Chimp, I'd not be here and neither would Chimp, so you all have Vicky to thank for unleashing Mr Chimp on the world hahahaha!
The People Behind the Sauce
Meet the Founder
A Personal Journey
Our story has been told by myself in prisons to help with the stigma that either society, or we ourselves attach and let people know they aren't on their own when it comes to depression and the struggles of starting a new business once either leaving prison or the prison of your own mind.
Innovation & Creativity
After making and selling over 40,000 bottles in our first 4 years all from our kitchen at home, we now have 22 food products with new inventions and product development coming from the same creative source.
What Drives Us
Our Mission
Bold Flavours
We don't do safe. We do bold. Every sauce is crafted to bring excitement and fire to your meals.
Quality First
Natural, gluten-free, vegan-friendly ingredients. Award-winning recipes that never compromise on quality.
Global Impact
From our kitchen to kitchens worldwide. Building a global community of Chimpions who love heat.