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European Heat Council · europeanheatcouncil.eu
European Heat Council

The voice of Europe’s independent hot sauce makers.

Uniting Europe’s chilli community, from seed to shelf.

The European Heat Council connects growers, makers, retailers and partners across the entire hot sauce ecosystem, driving standards, trust and growth together.

In ardore concordia

From seed to shelf

  1. Growing

  2. Fermentation

  3. Makers

  4. Packaging

  5. Retail

  6. Events

  7. Trade

  8. Logistics

Mandate

A convening body for the European hot sauce industry.

The European Heat Council coordinates the work of its member organisations, advances quality and provenance standards, and supports the independent producers shaping European chilli culture.

The Council operates across distribution, heritage, and quality. Its member programmes serve independent makers from Galway to Sofia, working year-round across borders.

Founded

MMXXVI

Seat

Berlin

Producers represented

200+

Bottles from a Croatian producer photographed at the Roman temple in Pula, Istria.

Bottles from an Istrian producer, photographed in Pula. Photo: Republic of Heat (AI-generated composite).

Membership

Why independent producers join the Council.

Membership connects producers to the Council’s press, distribution and event infrastructure. Some benefits are live today through founding member Republic of Heat. Others ship as the Council grows. We list both honestly.

Available now

  • Show up at more events for less, with the Council booking group stands and splitting cost and admin across members
  • Lower unit costs on bottles, caps, labels and ingredients through the Council's pooled purchasing
  • Skip the warehouse: drop pallets at the Council's fulfilment hub and we handle storage, picking and dispatch
  • Public and product liability cover at group rates, without shopping the market every renewal
  • Ship cheaper and faster, including cross-border, on the Council's negotiated courier rates

Roadmap

  • Pre-publication embargo access on Council releases
  • Voting rights on Council standards
  • Discounted European Hot Sauce Awards entry fee
  • Translation support across six European languages
  • Cross-border distribution introductions

Latest releases

All releases

Member organisations

Founding member

Press

For journalists and editors covering European chilli culture.

The Council distributes embargoed releases, judging results, and high-resolution photography through its member press operations. Working press are welcome at member events and tastings on accreditation.

Contact the Council

Working with European heat makers?

Producers, journalists, and trade buyers can reach the Council through its member organisations or directly via the contact page.

Get in touch