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I just tried your salsa and I must say it is one of the best I have ever tried!
I live in NH and was surprised that your salsa is made right here. Keep up the good
work and I will be buying more on my next shopping trip.
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The Story of Better Than Freds Salsa®
During winter break in 1996, a high school student named Richard Hanson gave himself a mission- to make the best salsa he had ever tasted. What drove him to this decision? He wasn't satisfied with the salsa he found in his refrigerator. He described it as "taco sauce" not salsa. After experimenting and achieving what he believed to be the best salsa in the world, he shared it with his friends, family, and neighbors. What set his salsa apart from the rest? Hanson used a blend of 7 to 9 chili peppers to vary the temperature of the flavors. Many salsas just use less or more of the same pepper. This technique was a hit with everyone who tried it. One person who tried it was so impressed that after his first mouthful he exclaimed, "This is better than Fred's!" (whose salsa he must have held in high regard) and the Better Than Freds® brand name was born.
The following summer, Hanson and his mother Jeanne officially created the company. In the spring of 2002, Better Than Freds® was purchased from the Hansons by Richard Leiter. The business was moved from Claremont, NH to Derry, NH. Although the people behind the business have changed, the salsa stays the same; chunky, juicy, and the best!
The Hansons have since moved on to other things. Richard Hanson went into the military. Jeanne Hanson has contributed to developing new recipes for the company several times. She has also assisted the sister company of Better Than Freds®, Glass Jar Goodies®, on numerous occasions.
 Since taking over the company in 2002, Leiter has brought Better Than Freds® to award-winning status! Our "Habanero" salsa won first place in the 2003 Fiery Food Challenge organized by Chili Pepper Magazine. The following year we were awarded with third place. In 2005 we introduced our own line of tortilla chips to the world! Chuk's Moose-o-licious Antler Chips® are all-natural, white corn chips shaped like a moose antler. They're a tasty, sturdy chip designed to withstand the big chunks of tomatoes and peppers found in our salsas.
Better Than Freds® has also begun assisting other companies in developing their products and has created new recipes for companies as well. We have grown in leaps and bounds since 2002 and currently have hundreds of locations that sell our products throughout New England and beyond. Richard Leiter continues to preserve the quality and taste of the original recipes while maintaining the integrity of the Hansons' vision. Better Than Freds® is still a small, New Hampshire based business run by Leiter and his family.
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Richard Hanson, the creator, 1996
Hanson in the military
Richard Leiter, the current owner
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