Meet Michael De Los Santos of Mike D’s BBQ

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael De Los Santos.

Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Mike D’s BBQ started out of my love for BBQ. Ever since I was young and growing up in Richmond, VA. My family would occasionally go to Roanoke Rapids, NC, and eat at Ralph’s BBQ. That is where I fell in love with it and have wanted to find a way to be involved ever since. When I first moved to NC in 2007, I started testing out making my own sauces and serving them at cookouts I would have.

I kept tweaking the recipe until I got them to where I and my guests loved them. Family and friends encouraged me to start a business, but I was hesitant. I didn’t want to enter a crowded field like BBQ Sauces are in the south. In 2009, I entered a version of my spicy sauce into a competition and finished 3rd overall and 2nd in my division. It was at this point I started to realize I may be on to something. I eventually started a blog reviewing BBQ restaurants from my travels around the state, and it grew to sauce companies sending me sauces to review.

I ended up with a cabinet full of sauces and felt mine were better than most of them, adding more confidence I could possibly start a business. However, it was not until I lost my son at six months of age that really pushed me to start it. I wanted to honor his memory and be like him. He couldn’t make excuses, just could try and fight to live as long as he could. I wanted to honor him, by making no more excuses and chasing my dream. I started Mike D’s BBQ a year later in his memory. We have been growing ever since.

I started selling out of the trunk of my car, then farmers markets, then larger markets, and now we have at least one customer in all 50 states, a retail partner in 26 states, and have shipped to 11 countries. All of our products have won awards, and we have had steady sales growth every year!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been easy. In our first year of business, it was hard to get our home kitchen approved. There were only two part-time inspectors for the whole state so we were not able to start selling our first rub until March and our first sauce until July.

Since then we have had trouble raising capital, we have inventory challenges, cash flow problems. Sometimes it felt like everything was going to be a challenge. Even now as we are in the midst of Covid, we face challenges of people coming into our store to shop.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mike D’s BBQ is an award-winning line of signature BBQ sauces and all-purpose dry rubs. Our sauces are a twist on the traditional BBQ sauce with some unique seasonings and spice levels inspired by my African American and Latino heritage. Our sauces are also a nod to the rich and well-deserved notoriety of BBQ in North Carolina history and culture. They are a hybrid of the two dominant flavor bases that make up the state; tomato-based sauces in the west and vinegar-based in the east. Whether you are in your kitchen, backyard grilling, or smoking our sauces and rubs are the perfect flavor compliment by not overpowering the natural flavor of the meat or vegetables.

We are most known for our sauces and rubs, but we also have a BBQ Supply and General Store in Durham where we sell all things BBQ, other NC Specialty Food Items, and our newly launched Mike D’s BBQ Signature Series Smoker. Many people think we are a restaurant, but we aren’t at this time, though maybe one day in the near future. For now, Mike D’s BBQ Supply and General Store is our only brick and mortar. (306 S. Driver St Durham, NC 27703)

Our flavors are what set us apart from other sauce and rub companies, Our products have won over 17 awards over the last few years. All of our sauces and rubs have finished in the Top 3 in the world in several categories, including a world champion in 2017 and another 1st place in the world in 2021. They have also won many awards on the state level as well.

One of the things I am most proud about with our brand, are the people. Mike D’s BBQ Nation has been a catalyst for our growth. Their word of mouth campaigns helped us reach one customer in all 50 states. Their support has propelled us to be in NASCAR and other sports as well. Another proud moment was when we went on the show, I Quit on the Discovery Channel, and was chosen as the winning business, and we didn’t even know it was a competition or there was something to win. We just went about trying to grow our business.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve had many people help me along the way. My wife Gloria, has been a big supporter allowing me to do the crazy things it takes to chase my passion. My previous bosses Pat McCoy and Peter Skillern have also always been big supporters and encouragers as I have worked to grow.

My mentor Harley Finkelstein from Shopify has been a big help. Portia Taylor, my first employee who is still with me has been instrumental in my growth. My good friends Lilu and Lulu, who are also entrepreneurs, have been a big help as well. We try and have regular business meetings to help each other stay focused and on track.

There are a lot of people I could name here and feel bad not mentioning them all, but I have been blessed to have a lot of people in my corner.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.mikedsbbq.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikedsbbq
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikedsbbq
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeDsBBQ
• Other: www.bullcitybbqbash.com