Frequently Asked Questions

Do you still offer a catalog?

No. Unfortunately, several factors resulted in us discontinuing our catalog in 2006. More and more folks are using the internet for their shopping resulting in a decrease in effectiveness for catalogs while at the same time, printing and delivery costs for catalogs have doubled in a fairly short period of time. Those factors combined with our expansion from less than 300 to over 1,500 products with lines constantly changing, and it just made sense to discontinue trying to offer a catalog. Fortunately, all of our products are easy to search for by category or manufacturer and our sampler and gift offerings are better than ever.

Do you produce the items you sell?

No. Think of us as the salsa/fiery foods/southwestern foods section of a grocery store on steroids! We offer over 1,500 items from more than 100 producers.

Do you know where I can get a product you offer locally?

No. We are an online superstore for the more than 1,500 products we offer and have no idea where the brands that we sell are sold in local markets. You could try contacting the manufacturer directly, but we might recommend that you call local stores first as many brands work through distributors and may not have any idea where specifically their products can be found. Better yet, just buy from us. We offer low flat rate shipping so the more you purchase, the better your per item shipping cost is. Our pricing is competitive and in most cases, lower than at specialty food stores.

Why is shipping so expensive?

Its not! Because of volume and the cost savings associated with it, in the past ten years, we have actually reduced prices on our shipping as well as our products. We offer several flat shipping options starting at just $7.99.

Can I ship items in one order to multiple shipping addresses?

No, we offer flat rate shipping on a per address basis. 

Do you offer quantity discounts?

Yes, our shipping. While many companies charge full retail shipping rates that go up the more you order, we offer a low flat rate shipping cost that is often much lower than our actual shipping cost. Whether you buy 1 item or 20 items, your shipping cost is the same and so your shipping cost per item goes down the more you buy.

How far out do best by dates go?

Often times up to or over two years. And since we turn over inventory at such a high rate, you can be assured that you are getting fresh merchandise.

I found something in my pantry that is past the best by date, is it still OK?

Probably - it just might not taste as good. You see, spices and other ingredients tend to loose potency over time. This is the reason for 'best by' dates - more for quality than for safety. The terms 'use by' or 'expires' are used in cases where food safety is concerned. 

How do you decide which items to offer?

Between vendors contacting us and the many food shows we have attended, we have probably sampled well over 100,000 items. And while a few weren't very good, most were quite good and many were exceptional. So you can imagine how difficult it is to decide which items to offer. Ultimately, we think of our customers when deciding what lines to offer. If we don't think you will buy it and love it, we figure it doesn't make sense to carry it.

What items do you recommend?

This is the hardest question to answer because everyone's tastes are different. Our staff has tried and tasted a ridiculous amount of items, but opinions are unique to us. This is why we allow our customers to rate the product we sell. Our customers can review thousands of reviews from other customers and make decisions based on them.