From Lafayette to tables nationwide
Our Story
Cajun Grocer began before online grocery shopping was commonplace. Its founders believed the internet could give people everywhere a dependable way to find authentic Louisiana food.
Thinking Outside the Box
The original idea was practical and forward-looking: build one online destination where customers could discover genuine Cajun products and have them shipped from Louisiana to their homes.
That required more than a website. The company had to develop supplier relationships, packing methods, cold-chain experience, and fulfillment systems for foods that were rarely sold online at the time.
Cajun Grocer launched in June 1999 with three people and a clear idea: use ecommerce to make authentic Cajun food available to customers nationwide.
Milestones
1998
An early ecommerce idea
After working with the Tabasco website at McIlhenny Company, Charlie Hohorst III saw that the internet could connect Louisiana food producers with customers far beyond the region.
June 1999
Cajun Grocer launches in Lafayette
Charlie Hohorst III, his father Charlie Hohorst Jr., and a warehouse manager launched Cajun Grocer as a one-stop online shop for Cajun food. At the time, ecommerce was still new and shipping regional food nationwide was an ambitious idea.
Early 2000s
Louisiana food reaches a national audience
The catalog grew around regional producers, seafood, smoked meats, prepared dishes, and pantry staples. Cajun Grocer helped customers who had moved away from Louisiana reconnect with familiar foods while introducing new customers to Cajun cooking.
2008
A recognized specialty-food business
By 2008, Cajun Grocer had become a significant online food operation. Founder-era reporting described plans to ship roughly 30,000 turduckens that year, showing how far the original three-person launch had grown.
2018
A new chapter
Ownership changed and operations continued from the New Orleans area. The company retained its focus on Louisiana products, nationwide service, and the difficult work of shipping frozen and perishable food well.
Today
Building on the original mission
Cajun Grocer continues connecting customers with authentic Louisiana food while improving the shopping, fulfillment, and customer-service experience for a new generation.
The Promise That Continues
Technology, ownership, and the catalog have changed over the years, but the core purpose remains recognizable: help people find the Louisiana foods they remember, discover products they cannot buy locally, and bring Cajun flavor to the table.