Flavor God seasoning has become an increasingly popular way to add delicious flavor to foods without extra calories, carbs, or sodium. With its blend of 18 herbs and spices, Flavor God provides a tasty alternative to traditional seasonings and condiments. But where exactly is this versatile seasoning produced?
The Origins of Flavor God Seasoning
Flavor God was created in 2013 by Lance Winters and his wife Anita. The couple owned a gourmet popcorn company in Los Angeles, CA called 187 Popcorn. They developed the original Flavor God seasonings to use on their popcorn instead of butter and salt. Customers loved the tasty seasoning blends, and demand grew for Flavor God as a stand-alone product. Winters decided to launch Flavor God as its own brand, and it quickly became a hit.
From California to Utah
Initially, Flavor God seasonings were produced at a small facility in California. However, as production increased, Winters decided to move manufacturing to Utah. In 2016, he opened a new 30,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Clearfield, UT. This allowed Flavor God to significantly expand capacity and efficiency. Today, the Clearfield facility produces all Flavor God seasonings for both retail and foodservice customers across the United States and internationally.
The Flavor God Manufacturing Process
Producing the signature Flavor God blends requires careful sourcing of high-quality ingredients and meticulous blending techniques. The process begins with procuring the herbs, spices, salts, sugars, and other ingredients that give each blend its unique flavor profile. Flavor God sources ingredients from around the world, including…
- Paprika from Spain
- Garlic from China
- Onion from India
- Oregano from Turkey
- Basil from Egypt
These raw ingredients are shipped to the Utah facility, where they undergo thorough inspection and testing. Flavor God maintains stringent quality standards, rejecting any subpar spices or herbs.
Precision Blending
Once the ingredients pass inspection, production begins. Flavor God starts by milling whole spices like coriander, fennel, and mustard seeds. This brings out their essential oils and aromas. Other herbs like parsley, thyme, and oregano are carefully chopped to desired specifications. Flavor God uses customized proprietary blends for each of its seasoning products. Blending technicians weigh out precise amounts of each component and thoroughly mix them in large rotating drums.
To ensure consistency between batches, Flavor God keeps a master formula for each blend. Workers meticulously follow the formulas using digital scales and other tools to achieve the perfect balance of flavors. Small samples from each batch are pulled for tasting by expert flavorists. If any sample does not meet flavor and aroma standards, the entire blend is rejected before packaging.
Packaging and Shipping
Once blended batches are approved, they move to packaging. Flavor God seasonings are packaged in plastic or foil bags of various sizes, ranging from .35 oz samples to 1 lb bags. Printing directly on packages allows efficient customization for retail or business customers. An automated production line accurately fills each bag with the desired amount of seasoning, seals it closed, and prints the Flavor God logo and product information. The finished bags are boxed and palletized for distribution.
Flavor God ships its seasonings from the Utah factory to retail stores, foodservice operators, and distribution centers across the United States and internationally. The company utilizes major carriers like FedEx for timely delivery to customers. Flavor God maintains sufficient inventory to fulfill orders promptly without backlogs. The Utah facility’s large capacity and strategic location allows cost-effective distribution across North America and beyond.
Food Safety and Cleanliness
Maintaining high standards of sanitation and safety is critical in food manufacturing. Flavor God’s Utah plant incorporates multiple features to ensure purity and cleanliness:
- Air filtration system to remove airborne contaminants
- Washdown work areas for thorough cleaning
- Equipment designed for easy disassembly and sterilization
- Strict employee hygiene policies, including hair/beard nets, uniforms, gloving
- Daily sanitation schedule performed by dedicated cleaning staff
- Monthly deep cleaning and sanitization of entire facility
The facility also follows a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety plan. This systematic approach identifies potential hazards and implements controls throughout the process, from raw ingredients to finished products. Flavor God seasoning has never been recalled due to contamination or food safety issues.
Quality Control Testing
In addition to safety measures, Flavor God performs extensive quality control testing. Samples of raw ingredients, blends, and finished products are evaluated in an on-site laboratory. Testing confirms that:
- Ingredients match specifications for purity, quality, and composition
- Blends contain the correct proportions of each component
- Finished seasonings meet sensory standards for flavor, aroma, texture, and appearance
- Packaging materials and seals remain intact
- Allergens are not present in allergen-free products
- Moisture content, acidity, and other variables are within defined parameters
By conducting over 20 different tests throughout the manufacturing process, Flavor God ensures every batch of seasoning delivers the same great taste and quality customers expect. Records of all testing data are maintained digitally for traceability.
Workforce
Flavor God employs over 100 workers at its Utah facility, including production personnel, warehouse staff, food scientists, quality assurance technicians, and corporate management. Lance Winters continues to oversee the company as CEO from headquarters in Los Angeles. The Clearfield team includes seasoned professionals in food manufacturing, logistics, and business operations.
To empower employee success, Flavor God provides training programs, opportunities for advancement, and a positive corporate culture. Workers take pride in producing an innovative product that brings joy and flavor to millions of households. Flavor God compensates its workforce with competitive wages and benefits to retain top talent.
Community and Environment
In addition to growing its business, Flavor God aims to support the local community. The company has donated seasonings to Utah food banks and sponsored events like the Davis County Fair. Flavor God also partners with schools to provide educational programs and scholarships.
Environmental sustainability is another priority. Flavor God has implemented initiatives to reduce waste, conserve resources, and recycle materials at its manufacturing facility. For example, scraps and byproducts of the blending process are repurposed into animal feed rather than discarded. The company continues exploring ways to increase efficiency and lessen environmental impact as it scales production to meet rising consumer demand.
Conclusion
With its one-of-a-kind flavor blends, Flavor God has secured a leading position in the seasoning market. Its growth from a California popcorn shop into a major national brand is a testament to the quality and appeal of its products. By relocating manufacturing to Utah, Flavor God has been able to significantly expand capacity while upholding strict standards for taste, safety, and purity.
Today, Flavor God’s state-of-the-art production facility in Clearfield, UT makes all of the delicious seasonings that customers have come to love. Meticulous sourcing, blending, and quality control result in a consistent product that enhances meals without unwanted additives. The committed workforce helps Flavor God bring joy to kitchens across America and beyond. So for home cooks and food industry professionals alike, Utah is the answer to where those flavorful Flavor God seasonings originate.