Top Shelf Canada
Top Shelf CanadaJosh Lines has been a bartender for 17 years. One night at the end of a shift, he ordered a meal and reached for the hot sauce. "I was tired of using the same old hot sauces. I wanted one that was thicker, more flavorful and wasn’t vinegar based. Then I wondered, 'Why doesn’t Canada have its own national brand of hot sauce?'" This led Lines to create Top Shelf Canada and his first product, Front Street Heat, Canada’s Premium Hot Sauce.
In 2017, Lines and his good friend and culinary scientist, Wayne Blythe, worked together to develop Front Street Heat. "I wanted a thicker base made of roasted red peppers, and a hot but not too hot sauce that was great for dipping, cooking and making a great Caesar. Wayne came up with the perfect consistency and flavour profile. Front Street Heat is low sodium, sweetened with honey, preserved with lime juice, gluten free, zero fat, and packed with flavor." Lines found a co-packer to manufacture and package Front Street Heat, and then started testing it locally. "I brought the sauce around to local restaurants and grocery stores, and the reactions were pretty outstanding. I haven’t looked back."
Since he was marketing Front Street Heat as "Canada’s Premium Hot Sauce," Lines wanted a name that resonated with all Canadians. "Most Canadian cities, including Sarnia, have a Front Street, so it felt right." Lines is working with three different distributors to sell Front Street Heat nationally. It is currently available in parts of Southern Ontario in Metro, Sobey’s, and Foodland. It is also available in select Canadian Tire and Home Hardware stores throughout Canada. "Front Street Heat is also available online through Amazon. I want the sauce available to everyone regardless of where they live." You can also follow @TOPSHELFCANADA on Instagram and, Facebook for recipes and inspiration.
Lines still bartends two days a week while managing all aspects of Top Shelf Canada. "I’m trying to turn Front Street Heat into a national brand and doing it alone is the biggest challenge, but I love it. It’s a fantastic product." Front Street Heat won first place for best label and second place in its sauce division at the 2018 World Hot Sauce Awards. "A lot of people think hot sauce is used just for dipping, but it’s much more versatile than that. I add it to soup, chili, marinades or anything I’m cooking to add a depth to the flavor."
Top Shelf Canada will be launching its second product soon. "I describe Front Street Heat as having a 'respectful kick of heat.' Our new product, Front Street Fire, is for the 'pepper heads' who like things a little spicier. I’m also working on the all Canadian Caesar which is a Clamato style mix to pair with local Canadian distilleries. The Caesar is Canada’s official cocktail and we should be making it with all Canadian products."
Related Stories
Treat Yourself Wellness Centre
As passionate as Alisha Buchanan is about treating her clients at Treat Yourself Wellness Centre, she is the first to admit her career as a biofeedback specialist got off to something of a slow start. Treat Yourself Wellness Centre was actually started in 1995 by her grandmother, Hilda Van Wyk, and
NOVUS Glass Repair & Replacement
In 2015, Shelby Armstrong decided to start Ace Auto Glass (now NOVUS Glass Repair & Replacement), his own auto glass replacement shop, at 1-777 Campbell Street. "I was 24 years old and for the first three years, I worked alone in...
Alicia Hardman thinks it's high time that people started showing hard cider some love. Alicia, who along with her husband Garren, owns and operates Shale Ridge Estate Winery in Thedford, Ont., 20 minutes south of Grand Bend. The couple feels hard cider is rightfully starting to make a name for its
When Frank Praill started Praill's Greenhouse in 1915, he did so because he loved flowers. In 1946 his son Harold took over when Frank passed away. In 1997, Harold's son Bruce took over the business, and in 2015, Bruce retired and passed the business along to his three sons, Sean, Chad and Ian.
Related Stories
Diversity Ed.
In a complicated world, Crystal Fach's goal is one of simplicity: "My goal is to create a Sarnia that is free of discrimination and inclusive to 2S-LGBTQ folks, no matter where they go," Crystal says. "Not just here, but if they walk into a store across the street or if they go to another co
Ty West
Musician Ty West grew up in Brights Grove before heading west to start his career. "I love visiting home and walking along the water. Living in B.C., you get to see the beautiful mountains, but Ontario has an amazing view too," says West. Growing up, he became an over-the-top music fan. In
Vision Nursing & Rest Home
In 1974, a group of Sarnia business people came together to establish Vision 74 Inc., a non-profit charitable organization that would be of service to the community. The group built Vision Nursing home in 1974 with 60 long-term care beds at 229 Wellington Street. The long-term care beds increased
Re/Max Sarnia Realty - John McCharles
John McCharles has called Petrolia home for more than 50 years. He moved from the Kincardine area to Petrolia in the late 1960s to attend school and work in the funeral business. He left the funeral business to work for an ambulan...
