🌶️Jason Kelce pours money into a hot sauce brand🔥
Jason Kelce is coming in hot with an investment in hot sauce brand Hank Sauce.
The New Jersey-based condiment brand, started in 2011 by college friends as "a hot sauce for people who don't like hot sauce,” produces its line of “approachable heat” sauces in a 10,000-square-foot facility in Millville, New Jersey.
Its best known for its signature “Core Four” sauces — Herb Infused, Cilanktro, Camouflage & Hank’s Heat. The line now also includes a mix of seasonal sauces.
The privately-held brand is sold in more than 5,000 stores nationwide, including Publix, Giant, ShopRite, Sprouts, Cabela’s, Ace Hardware, and on hanksauce.com.
“I’m a long time fan and consumer of Hank Sauce products. As someone who has spent time in the South Jersey area for the past 14 years, I’ve gotten to know the people who built the brand and see the awesomeness that exudes from behind and within its bottles,” Kelce said in a statement.
“When an opportunity arose to be a part of this thing, and help let folks know what makes this brand and product so fantastic for any of your culinary or flavor-adding endeavors, I couldn’t jump on board fast enough,” he added.
Although details about the size of the investment were not shared, Kelce’s investment in Hank Sauce comes through Winnie Capital, a private family investment office that manages the business and philanthropic activities of Jason and his wife, Kylie Kelce.
The couple’s other investments are spread across media, athletics, consumer packaged goods, apparel, real estate and technology, and include Underdog Apparel, the Eagles Autism Foundation and Garage Beer.
As part of their most recent partnership, Kelce is expected to be involved with Hank Sauce on creating original content and brand strategy and awareness initiatives.
Kelce played 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles as a starting center, before announcing his retirement in 2024.
The former NFL player today juggles multiple roles, including being a father to four girls, ESPN analyst on Monday Night Countdown, a private investor and co-host with his brother Travis Kelce (tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift’s fiancé) of the very successful podcast called New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce.
Kylie Kelce, a former college field hockey player who majored in communications, launched her own very successful podcast Not Gonna Lie in late 2024.
The collaboration between Kelce and Hank sauce came about after the company reached out to Winnie Capital in September 2024 through a mutual connection.
“We quickly responded and engaged given our collective affinity for the brand and its products,” Winnie Capital said in a statement to Bagable.com
Matt Pittaluga, co-founder of Hank Sauce, said in a comment to Bagable.com that the business was “intentional about finding a partner who would allow us to continue building the brand without losing what makes it authentic.”
“We’d watched Jason’s personal brand grow over the years and knew he had a strong team behind him at Winnie Capital. He was already a genuine fan and regular at our Sea Isle City restaurant. So, taking our shot and starting the conversation felt natural,” Pittaluga said.