A Wisconsin-based spice company with three Twin Cities locations has decided it’s not just selling cinnamon and cardamom — it’s taking on the Republican Party.
A reader recently told Alpha News they were shocked to discover that Penzeys Spices, which operates brick-and-mortar stores in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Lakeville, has a lengthy political manifesto published on its website blasting Republicans and accusing the party of “cruelty” and “racism.”
“We’re done pretending the Republican Party’s embrace of cruelty, racism, Covid lies, climate change denial, and threats to democracy are anything other than the risks they legitimately are,” the website reads.
The company says conservative customers who are offended may be happier filling their spice racks someplace else.
“If you need us to pretend you are not creating the hurt you are creating in order for you to continue to be our customer, I’m sad to say you might be happier elsewhere.”
Company blasts Republicans but accepts their money
At the same time, the company makes clear it will happily continue accepting Republicans’ money.
“We would still be glad to have you as customers,” the website adds.
The statement, signed by company owner Bill Penzey, appears on the company’s “About Republicans” page and argues that spices have historically been “a driving force for change.”
The “racist” rhetoric isn’t limited to the company website. Penzeys Spices’ Facebook and X pages feature similar messaging in many of its social media posts.
The Republican Party is a racist party. You, me, and everybody’s dog knows that. That racism hurts good people already facing more than their fair share of obstacles. As long as the costs of racism are only paid by those on the receiving end, racism will never stop.
— Penzeys Spices (@PenzeysSpices) January 29, 2022
Past MLK weekend sale named ‘Republicans are racist weekend’
The company’s statement appears to continue a long-standing practice of publicly targeting Republicans.
In 2022, Penzey used a customer email newsletter to announce that the company was renaming its Martin Luther King Jr. Day sale weekend “Republicans are racist weekend.”
In 2016, Penzey accused supporters of Donald Trump of committing “racism” by voting for Trump.
“Given the choice between saving America and planet Earth or saving the feelings of Republican voters, we are choosing to side with saving our country and our world,” Penzey writes on the company website. “I’m sorry it’s come to this.”
For those who continue shopping at Penzeys, the company says it will “on a regular basis, try to wake you up from this dream that has you believing there is anything conservative left at all to what the Republican Party has become.”
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
