Established in 1940, Chef Specialties is a fourth-generation family-owned manufacturer of pepper and spice mills in Smethport, Pennsylvania—recognized as America’s first pepper mill manufacturer. Its Professional Series grinding mechanisms are precision machined and hand assembled in the Pennsylvania factory, while the company’s wood mills are crafted from American hardwood and individually inspected. Chef Specialties’ mills serve both commercial establishments and home kitchens worldwide, with customization available through engraving and hand painting.
The Chesapeake Spice CompanyOperating since 1987, family-owned Chesapeake Spice makes spices and custom seasoning blends at manufacturing facilities on the East and West coasts. The company sources directly from growers worldwide and combines that farm-to-finished-product control with in-house culinary development, including a Culinary Center where customers can test applications. Chesapeake is BRCGS, OU Kosher, and Halal certified, and is certified by the Maryland Department of Agriculture to produce organic products.BELCAMP, MD
First Spice Mixing Company IncFamily-owned and operated since 1940, First Spice Mixing Company makes custom seasoning blends and food ingredients for manufacturers across the food industry. Founded by Felix Epstein after he immigrated to the United States, the company grew from a Lower Manhattan spice business into a three-facility operation with research and development teams at each plant. Its history in sausage and meat seasoning remains part of the company’s identity, alongside technical support for product development and food-safety programs certified to FSSC 22000.LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
Pittsburgh Spice and Seasoning CompanySince 1967, Pittsburgh Spice and Seasoning Company has supplied fresh spice blends, seasonings and butcher-shop essentials to meat processors, hunters, caterers and home cooks. The family-owned Pittsburgh business develops proprietary blends—drawing on more than 800 recipes—and pairs them with sausage casings and equipment for customers making their own products. Its storefront also brings those handcrafted seasonings to local shoppers and the Murrysville Farmers Market.PITTSBURGH, PA
Elite SpiceFounded in 1988, Elite Spice is an American-owned spice importer and custom manufacturer producing spices and seasoning blends for the food manufacturing industry. Its six facilities in Maryland and Nevada encompass more than 800,000 square feet, and the company operates its own microbial-reduction systems alongside manufacturing operations. Elite Spice’s products are made for commercial food producers and are used across segments of the food industry.JESSUP, MD