Joseph A. Badia

Badia Spices has been providing scholarships for FIU students for almost one decade. In October 2004, Badia Spices established the Badia Spices Scholarship Program for FIU students who demonstrate an interest and commitment to the spice industry. A year and a half later, the Badia Spices-Jose Martí Scholarship Program was established to commemorate the accomplishments of the Cuban writer and orator, Jose Martí. In addition, FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management (CSHTM) and Badia Spices hosted a competition in that asked FIU’s hospitality school students to create a unique spice rub using no more than eight spices. The prizes: a $5,000 scholarship, Badia Spices selling and distributing the new spice mix, and bragging rights. Jenifer Bound, a student majoring in hospitality management at FIU, was declared the winner. A percentage of worldwide sales of the unique spice blend will benefit FIU students in perpetuity.

Badia Spices is the world’s leading privately Hispanic-owned spice manufacturer. Badia has brought to market the finest ingredients from all corners of the world. They are committed to offering their consumers the highest quality. Badia has added an Organic and Gluten-Free line, and is proud to have its products certified by Safe Quality Foods, an audit recognized around the world as being one of the most rigorous and credible food safety management systems in the marketplace today. For more information, visit http://www.badiaspices.com.

Badia History

1967 – Company founded by Jose Badia. Complete Seasoning is offered on the retail shelf and route truck service is started to Miami’s independent grocery stores
1968 – From this small store Jose, Azucena and their son Joseph would hand-pack the spices in the evening and wake at dawn to distribute the orders to more than 30 small stores across Miami Beach
1971 – Joseph “Pepe” Badia takes over daily operations of the business
1972 – Badia Spices moves to a 1200-square foot warehouse in Miami
1974 – Badia Spices achieves its first million dollar sales year
1975 – Badia Spices sells over one million pounds of Sazon Completa (Complete Seasoning)
1979 – Badia was successful on Sedano’s supermarket shelves when it becomes available in Varadero supermarkets in Miami
1980 – The arrival of more than 125,000 Cuban exiles from the Mariel boatlifts gives hold to a new Hispanic market in the U.S., and Badia is in demand in South Florida supermarkets such as Sedanos, among others
1984 – The company moves to a 17,000-square foot warehouse in Miami
1985 – This dynamic allows Badia to position itself in 10 Winn Dixie supermarkets in Puerto Rico; Adobo is the indispensable product in supermarket chains and Badia prepares to move into a new warehouse
1988 – Latinos, famous for brand loyalty, continue to generate impulse; quality products at fair prices allow Badia to open with automated packing systems and a new line of marinades
1989 – Through a professional network of distributors, Badia’s success hits Publix supermarkets, with an initial trial of 100 points of sale which today total more than 300
1990 – Badia conquers the Western U.S., arrives in Texas, Atlanta and the Tampa Bay area while launching its Mexican line with successful gastronomical products favored by Mexican cuisine; New York welcomes Badia’s garlic powder; Badia adds foodservice sizes to the line
1992 – Mojo Sauce launched
1998 – Badia consolidates as a global firm and fuses its brand with the markets in Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia and Holland
1999 – Badia purchases 65,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Doral, an upscale area of Miami
2000 – Badia successfully incorporates innovative products to penetrate other segments within the food industry, thus embarking on its new line of olive oils and canned foods such as hearts of palm and malanga
2001 – Extra Virgin Olive Oil is added to the product line
2001 – An ambitious packaging revamping project follows an important projection of launching subcategories specialized within the traditional line, such as the new gourmet mixes
2003 – Badia employs over 100 employees for the first time
2004 – 27,000 additional square feet are added to the company’s Doral facility
2004 – Badia trademarks the name of its Complete Seasoning with the US government
2005 – Texas and California markets are added to the company’s sales base
2005 – 10,000-sq ft warehouse purchased near the Doral facility. Badia’s extensive carpentry/rack manufacturing operations are moved into the facility
2005 – Four new form/fill pouch lines are added to produce retail “zip-seal” spice pouches
2006 – Two new automatic jar fill lines are added to increase capacity
2007 – Robotic palletizer added
2008 – 2 new horizontal fill-lines added
2009 – Raw materials storage warehouse added
2010 – Additional robot and 2 herbal tea manufacturing lines added
2011 – Food safety improvements, with X-Ray technology replacing metal detection equipment.
2012 – New 65,000 sq ft distribution center purchased for September opening