The company was started by a José Badía, an Cuban exile who fled the island nation in the 1960s. Though he had a hardware business in Cuba, Badía started the spice business in a small shop in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. In 1970, Badía hired his son, Joseph "Pepe," to manage daily operations, and Pepe is now the majority owner and president of Badia Spices, Inc. Today, Badia Spices sells over 120 products, including raw spices and herbs, blended spices, and dried chili peppers, throughout the United States and in 67 other countries.