Penzeys Spices
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food retail |
| Founded | 1957 |
| Founder | William Penzey Sr. and Ruth Ann Penzey |
| Headquarters | Wauwatosa , United States |
Area served | North America |
Key people | William T. Penzey Jr. (CEO) |
| Products | Spices |
Penzeys Spices is an American spice retailer that operates through physical stores, mail-order catalogs, and an online platform. Its corporate headquarters are located in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. As of 2007, the company served approximately 600,000 customers via its catalog.
History
The origins of the business trace back to 1957 when William Penzey Sr. and Ruth Ann Penzey established The Spice House in Milwaukee, initially specializing in coffee and spices. Their son, William T. Penzey Jr., entered the family enterprise at a young age and launched his own spice catalog company in 1986 when he was 22 years old. The business experienced continual growth, culminating in the opening of its inaugural retail store in 1994. By 2013, under Bill Penzey’s leadership, the company had expanded to operate 69 stores throughout North America, marking substantial development.
Retail contraction
In 2012, Penzeys maintained 67 retail outlets spread across 29 states. However, due to challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced store closures in March 2020. This reduction continued, and by June 2021, the total number of locations had dropped to 53.
Political involvement
Penzeys Spices has gained recognition for its outspoken liberal viewpoints. Its website includes an "About Republicans" section characterizing the party’s politics as "nonsense." On January 14, 2022, CEO Bill Penzey rebranded the Martin Luther King Jr. Day sale weekend as "Republicans are racist weekend," citing concerns about voter suppression and reactions to the George Floyd protests. This move sparked considerable controversy, resulting in 40,000 newsletter cancellations but also attracting 30,000 new subscribers.
On the first anniversary of the January 6 Capitol riot, a similar email described Republicans as the "#1 threat to this country." Additionally, the company faced criticism from Jewish customers and advocacy organizations after publishing posts critical of Israel following the October 7 Hamas-led attack and for a contentious joke referencing hiding Jews in attics.
In 2024, when presidential candidate Kamala Harris visited a Penzeys store in Pittsburgh, it provoked negative responses from Republican commentators.
Bibliography
- Penzey, Bill; Penzeys One Staff (2008). How We Became One. Kitchen Table Communications.