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Molly Fienning
Entrepreneur & CEO
Molly Fienning is the Co-Founder and CEO of Red Clay Hot Sauce, a chef-driven Southern foods brand known for its high-quality hot sauces, hot honeys, and specialty salts.
Background and Education
Molly Fienning graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.26
Entrepreneurial Career
Before Red Clay Hot Sauce, Molly co-founded and served as Co-CEO of Babiators, a leading sunglasses brand for babies and kids. Babiators was recognized as one of Forbes' 100 Most Promising Companies and has sold over 3 million pairs of sunglasses globally.24
Red Clay Hot Sauce
Molly discovered Red Clay Hot Sauce in 2014 while dining at an oyster bar in Charleston called The Ordinary. She was introduced to the original hot sauce created by Chef Geoff Rhyne, which she found to be complex, delicious, and perfectly balanced. This experience converted her into a hot sauce enthusiast and eventually led her to partner with Chef Rhyne to launch Red Clay as a brand. Initially, she was an equity founding partner, and in the summer of 2018, she stepped into an active role as CEO.135
Under her leadership, Red Clay Hot Sauce has experienced significant growth, with sales increasing by 2-4 times annually for four years. The brand has partnered with major retailers such as Whole Foods Market, Publix, The Fresh Market, and Target. Red Clay has been featured in various media outlets, including the Today Show, Vanity Fair, Good Morning America, and Food and Wine Magazine, which named it "Tabasco for the 21st century".23
Business Philosophy and Practices
Molly emphasizes the use of high-quality, sustainably sourced ingredients and traditional techniques. Red Clay's hot sauces are cold-pressed and aged in Bourbon barrels for 6-8 weeks, which adds umami and depth to the flavor. She is committed to maintaining the company's values, even when scaling production, and has successfully partnered with fresh pressed juicers and kombucha makers to preserve the cold-pressed and fermented processes.12
Personal Life
Molly lives in Charleston with her husband, Ted, and their two sons, Sawyer and Fox. She is known for her Southern hospitality and New York City sophistication. She is also a champion of women-owned businesses and values the support of her family and the community of female business owners.4
