From Time:

David Tran’s sriracha has become a top hot sauce brand in America. He began making chili sauce in Vietnam, and continued the business when he and his family fled Vietnam to the United States. His sauce remains a popular favorite, even for chefs and celebrities.

Despite only expecting to sell to those from Vietnam or China, Tran’s product found fans across the country and became popular with chefs and celebrities. Tran also did not spend any money on marketing and relied on just one red pepper grower named Craig Underwood. The partnership between Tran and Underwood lasted almost 30 years and the two even talked about succession plans.



Read more: David Tran, 78-year-old Vietnamese immigrant who founded sriracha company Huy Fong