Foodchain Brand Partners

About Capsicana.

Capsicana are a fast growing challenger brand within the ambient world foods category. They create award winning & great tasting Latin American cooking pastes, meal kits, side dishes & seasonings. The real taste of Latin American street food!

Founded by Ben & inspired by the food experiences he had with his Dad growing up, they connected over cooking, travelling around visiting backstreet cantinas with their Mexican friends. The focus was on authentic ingredients & recipes, and the food was always awesome!

Ben discovered a world of flavours that he’d never experienced, new and delicious ingredients… which began a life long passion for Latin American food. And then one day he decided that he needed to get as many people in the UK as excited about it as he is… So... he quit his office job in London and began importing dried & smoked chillies from Mexico and selling them on a market stall in Hitchin. This was the start of Capsicana!

Capsicana has come a long way since and their products are now available in Sainsburys, Waitrose, Ocado, Booths as well internationally. Their growth rate has been over 100% every year since 2016!

Company Values.

Hard Working | Ambitious | Agile | Flexible

Over the years, Capsicana has built a hard working close knit team who make great things happen at pace, whilst being flexible, upbeat and approachable. They achieve a lot, celebrate their wins, and push themselves to go even further. It's an exciting industry to work in and even more exciting category to be part of.

Journey So Far...

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

Waitrose Listing

Secured a major listing in Waitrose

Another Major Listing

Next major Supermarket listing, this time into Sainsbury's.

Key Hire: Gina joined to support with Finance & Operations.

Future Brand & Great Taste Award.

Added seasoning mixes to the range. Become a Sainsbury’s Future Brand and also got listed on Ocado. Winner of Great Taste Award and recognised with a Guild of Fine Foods "Golden Fork", one of only 12 awarded to over 12,500 entries from across the UK and Ireland!

Key Hire: David joined as Non Exec Chairman - bringing a great wealth of experience of working for large international organisations primarily in Latin America.

International Growth.

Added meal kits, Beans and salsa mixes to the ever growing range. Launched into Sainsburys Locals, Booths and a major Belgian retailer, becoming their first overseas account.

Key Hire: Gok joined as Finance Manager

Growing Team.

Upgraded the cooking sauce range to cooking pastes. Expanded seasoning mixes and launched large & mini tortillas.

Key Hires: Catriona joined at the beginning of the year as Marketing Manager - bringing with her large FMCG brand marketing experience, Lily joined towards the end of year as Assistant Brand Manager and Lindsey joined Gina in the Operations team, as the business continued to invest in their team and talented people.

Exciting Growth Plans Ahead.

New meal kit listing in Waitrose and more exciting NPD to come this year and onwards.

Significant year of team growth as Capsicana aim to expand their Finance, Marketing, Technical and Operations team. Watch this space for new opportunities.

Ben Jackson - Founder

"I look for people who enjoy working at pace in a friendly, upbeat environment & obviously people who love and have a passion for food."