Michael Burgess, Founder & CEO of Nerpy's Inc.

Michael Burgess — Founder & CEO, Nerpy's Inc.

Michael Burgess is the Jamaican-born founder and CEO of Nerpy's Inc., the Richmond Hill, Ontario company he started to bring the Caribbean flavours he grew up with into Canadian kitchens. He developed and taste-tested every Nerpy's recipe himself, and since 2018 the Scotch bonnet peppers in Nerpy's products have come from his family farm in St. Catherine, Jamaica.

Michael Burgess, founder and CEO of Nerpy's Inc., in a Nerpy's polo shirt

Quick Facts

  • Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Jamaica
  • Spent many days with his grandfather on his farm in Clarendon, Jamaica, learning from him
  • Moved to Canada in 1982, at age 12
  • Began developing Nerpy's recipes in 2008; incorporated Nerpy's Inc. in 2009 in Richmond Hill, Ontario
  • Scotch bonnets grown on Nerpy's 4-acre family farm in St. Catherine, Jamaica, since 2018
  • Nerpy's is sold in about 220 stores across Ontario, including 78 Walmart stores, Metro, Sobeys and Farm Boy

From Jamaica to Richmond Hill

Michael was born in Kingston and raised in Jamaica, where he spent many days on his grandfather's farm in Clarendon, learning from him about the produce, peppers and spices at the heart of Jamaican cooking. He moved to Canada in 1982 at age 12, bringing that food culture with him.

After the 2008 financial crisis, Michael began developing his own pepper sauce recipe. He tested it in a university food lab before launching, and incorporated Nerpy's Inc. in Richmond Hill, Ontario in 2009. Nerpy's Gold Very Hot Sauce, made with Scotch bonnet and mango, was the original sauce. The line has since grown to include Red Hot Sauce, a wet Jamaican jerk paste, One Drop Green Seasoning, Spicy Curry Seasoning, Spicy Tropical BBQ Sauce, Escoveitch pickled vegetables, and Scotch bonnet pepper flakes and powder.

Why Nerpy's Exists

Michael Burgess, founder of Nerpy's Inc., holding a bottle of Nerpy's Gold Very Hot Sauce

Nerpy's is not inspired by Jamaican food — it is rooted in it. Michael created the brand so Canadians could cook with the real flavours of Jamaican tradition: Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento, thyme and scallion, made with all-natural ingredients and no artificial preservatives, no MSG and no artificial colours. In 2018 the Burgess family began growing Scotch bonnets on a 4-acre farm in St. Catherine, Jamaica, so the peppers in Nerpy's products come from the family, not a commodity supplier.

Every Nerpy's product is made in Canada and carries the Ontario Made certification. The line is vegan and certified gluten-free.

Recognition

  • 2025 Alla Salute Canadian Magazine Award of Excellence — Best Canadian Hot Sauce (Nerpy's Gold and Red)
  • ByBlacks.com People's Choice Award, Consumer Packaged Goods — 2022 and 2023
  • Eternal Flame Award, 1st place, Hot category, 2019 Heatwave Hot Sauce Expo (Nerpy's Gold)
  • 2019 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Hot Sauce Competition — 2nd in Extra Hot and 3rd in Hot
  • 2016 Jerk Warz, Ajax Downs — 3rd place (jerk seasoning)

Speaking

  • Featured guest speaker, JAMPRO (Jamaica Promotions Corporation) Ontario Agribusiness Investors Breakfast
  • Speaker, York Region Agri-Food Start-Up Networking Event (YorkLink / Foodpreneur Lab), 2026

Interviews & Media

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn. See all coverage on the In The Press page, or read the Nerpy's story.

Shop Nerpy's Products →

Nerpy's at Walmart

Walmart

Bring bold Caribbean flavor to your meals with Nerpy's food products, now available in Walmart stores across Ontario.
Nerpy's at Walmart

walmart.ca

If you haven’t tried Nerpy’s food products, now available on walmart.ca.
Metro

Metro

Turn up the flavor with Nerpy’s food products, now available at Metro.
Farmboy

Farmboy

Turn ordinary meals into flavor adventures with Nerpy’s food products, now at Farmboy.
Mama Earth

Mama Earth

Bring bold Caribbean flavor to your kitchen with Nerpy’s food products, now available at Mama Earth.
Halendas Fine Foods

Halendas Fine Foods

Elevate your meals with Nerpy’s food products, now available at Halenda’s Fine Foods.
Sobeys Urban Fresh

Sobeys Urban Fresh

Add bold island flavor to every meal with Nerpy’s food products, now at Sobeys Urban Fresh.
Sobeys

Sobeys

Bring bold Caribbean flavor to your meals with Nerpy’s food products, now available at Sobeys.
The friendly butcher

The Friendly Butcher

Bring bold island flavor to your meals with Nerpy’s food products, now at The Friendly Butcher.
Obis kitchen

Obis kitchen

Bring bold island flavor to your table with Nerpy’s food products, now at Obi’s Kitchen.
The Village Grocer

The Village Grocer

Turn every meal into a flavor-packed experience with Nerpy’s food products, now at The Village Grocer.
The Meat Merchant

The Meat Merchant

Bring bold Caribbean flavor to your meals with Nerpy’s food products, now available at The Meat Merchant.
Klosters butcher shop

Klosters Butcher Shop

Add authentic Caribbean flavor to your meals with Nerpy’s Hot Sauces and Jamaican Jerk Marinades, now available at Klosters Butcher Shop.
Olds Cool General Store

Olds Cool General Store

If you've not tried these Hot Sauces and Authentic Jamaican Jerk seasonings from Nerpy's, you need to give these a try. It's BBQ & Pool Party Season! It's time to "Nice it Up!"
PF Meat Products

PF Meat Products

Spice up your meals with Nerpy’s food products, now available at PF Meat Products.
Totera Fine Foods

Totera Fine Foods

Bring bold Caribbean flavor to your kitchen with Nerpy’s food products, now available at Totera Fine Foods.
MH Finefoods

MH Finefoods

Add authentic Caribbean flavor to your meals with Nerpy’s Hot Sauces and Jamaican Jerk Marinades, now available at MH Finefoods.
Metro
Farmboy
Mama Earth
Halendas Fine Foods
Logo 7
Sobeys Urban Fresh
The friendly butcher
Obis kitchen
The Village Grocer
The Meat Merchant
Klosters butcher shop
Olds Cool General Store
PF Meat Products
Totera Fine Foods
MH Finefoods