I remember watching the Sriracha documentary a few years ago, going through so many bottles of the stuff and putting it on everything... but then it became impossible to get here for a long time because of their SNAFU with their supplier.
I tried other things in the meantime. Became obessed with another hot sauce from, of all places, Ontario. Check it out, I think you may like it (even if you don't like pineapple, I don't like 'em but love this sauce): https://jrshotsauce.ca/shop/ols/products/pineapple-heat-stress
Re: Jaguar, everyone's hating on them for the new AI-generated ad (seriously, that's what I thought it was at first), but it's not as if the brand value was all that strong in the first place. They've spent the last 15 years trying to convince the market of their engineering prowess with the XJ and the F-Type (which were actually pretty cool-looking cars) to no avail. In fact, their brand value is so bad that they're literally not even making/selling any new cars this year. So why not release a completely outlandish ad that infuriates on purpose? At least it gets people talking about them again, which they weren't doing last week.
I don't know how smart their EV-only strategy is now though, considering most of the developed world ex-China is turning against EVs....and China has diminishing appetite for luxury imports.
Cars are sort of having their film to digital moment. On the one hand building the great historic brand equity that jaguar has takes decades, and a company should play off that! On the other hand, when there’re a massive technology sea change, a company cannot be afraid to cannibalize their own business to stay up to date. Kodak refused to change and got rekt (even though they had early tech for digital cameras). Now digital cameras are ubiquitous, but still, film has come back in a way for creators wanting that look. Same with quartz vs mechanical watches. I think it’s obvious for a brand like Ferrari to maintain gas engines and become the Rolex of cars. But I wonder what a brand like Jaguar, who’s a middle-ground luxury car brand, should do 🫣.
The Underwood siracha is much better quality than Huy Fong’s sad post-2018 sirachas. You can get the Underwood version at Costco. It's deep red and high quality. The Huy Fong is all off-color and depressing anymore. I gave up on buying it because they make a sub-par product now.
Always enjoy your work. I love the Sriracha story on so many levels. A world in which teens have contests over who can eat more Sriracha can't be all that terrible, right?
From the Huy Fong pantheon, though, my go-to is sambal oelek. Less vinegar-y, more fire!
I remember watching the Sriracha documentary a few years ago, going through so many bottles of the stuff and putting it on everything... but then it became impossible to get here for a long time because of their SNAFU with their supplier.
I tried other things in the meantime. Became obessed with another hot sauce from, of all places, Ontario. Check it out, I think you may like it (even if you don't like pineapple, I don't like 'em but love this sauce): https://jrshotsauce.ca/shop/ols/products/pineapple-heat-stress
Yo! If I could trust anyone to find a new hot sauce, its you. I'm a huge fan of pineapples. (Always get Hawaiian Pie).
Thanks for another great read.
Re: Jaguar, everyone's hating on them for the new AI-generated ad (seriously, that's what I thought it was at first), but it's not as if the brand value was all that strong in the first place. They've spent the last 15 years trying to convince the market of their engineering prowess with the XJ and the F-Type (which were actually pretty cool-looking cars) to no avail. In fact, their brand value is so bad that they're literally not even making/selling any new cars this year. So why not release a completely outlandish ad that infuriates on purpose? At least it gets people talking about them again, which they weren't doing last week.
Thanks for the note, Joseph!
I definitely see credence in the "some press is better than no press" for Jaguar, considering how far they've fallen.
I'm ready to be proven wrong on their unveil this upcoming week at Miami Art Week.
I don't know how smart their EV-only strategy is now though, considering most of the developed world ex-China is turning against EVs....and China has diminishing appetite for luxury imports.
Thanks for the read, Jon!
That Sambal goes hard AF...I need to give it a run is the main option for a bit.
Cars are sort of having their film to digital moment. On the one hand building the great historic brand equity that jaguar has takes decades, and a company should play off that! On the other hand, when there’re a massive technology sea change, a company cannot be afraid to cannibalize their own business to stay up to date. Kodak refused to change and got rekt (even though they had early tech for digital cameras). Now digital cameras are ubiquitous, but still, film has come back in a way for creators wanting that look. Same with quartz vs mechanical watches. I think it’s obvious for a brand like Ferrari to maintain gas engines and become the Rolex of cars. But I wonder what a brand like Jaguar, who’s a middle-ground luxury car brand, should do 🫣.
The Underwood siracha is much better quality than Huy Fong’s sad post-2018 sirachas. You can get the Underwood version at Costco. It's deep red and high quality. The Huy Fong is all off-color and depressing anymore. I gave up on buying it because they make a sub-par product now.
I'm gonna try Underwood if they got it on my next Costco shop.
Always enjoy your work. I love the Sriracha story on so many levels. A world in which teens have contests over who can eat more Sriracha can't be all that terrible, right?
From the Huy Fong pantheon, though, my go-to is sambal oelek. Less vinegar-y, more fire!