CLIFCO was founded in 1988 by Gene and Delores Clifton to supply spices and seasoning needs to meat packing plants. 

 Gene had been in the meat business for nearly forty years.  Beginning in a sausage kitchen and moving on to managing a full line plant, he had experience in all phases of sausage making.  Deciding he was ready for a change and using his vast knowledge and experience from his many years of making sausage, he went to work for a company selling spices to the meat industry. When the industry started to change and many companies began setting large order quantities and minimum orders that were much too high for small and medium sized companies, he founded Clifco Spice Sales, Inc. to serve the needs of small and medium size plants.  Their son, Kevin, came into the business with them.  Kevin managed the blending operation, Delores managed the office and Gene was the salesman.

When Gene passed away in 1992, Delores and Kevin decided the company must go on.  They had a loyal customer base that depended on them for their seasoning needs. In August 1998, they added to their customer base by buying a small retail company selling to grocery stores and supermarkets.  They began receiving many requests for Clifco products from all over the country from individuals who had bought it in Texas, but had to move to other states. All Texans understand how we crave that good Texas BBQ! They began selling to a few individuals and word traveled fast. 

James, a long time family friend was hired in 1992 to help Kevin in the blending operation, and is still an important part of the business. Kevin’s son, KC and his daughter, Laura both joined the company part time during school years to learn the family business and both are now full time employees.

When Delores passed away in 2007, Kevin became the President and CEO of Clifco. Laura has stepped in to run the office operations with grace and ability and is serving her father and the company very well. Kevin continues to adhere to the original idea on which the company was founded while implementing new technology to better serve their customer base. Clifco is still a family owned and operated business. Kevin, KC and Laura are directly involved in the day to day operations. Delores' long time friend Pat has been in the company for several years and she or Laura will usually be the voice on the phone when you call.