Brand Comparison
505 Southwestern vs Hatch Chile Store
505 Southwestern puts Hatch chile in jars on grocery shelves nationwide. Hatch Chile Store ships farm-direct fresh, frozen, and roasted chile plus sauces straight from the Hatch Valley. Two different ways to get New Mexico green chile—here is how they compare.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Key differences at a glance.
| Factor | 505 Southwestern | Hatch Chile Store |
| Founded | 1997 by restaurateur Roy Solomon in Albuquerque, NM | Family farming since 1917; sixth-generation Hatch Valley growers |
| Chile Sourcing | Sources Hatch Valley chile for processed products | Grows chile on their own family farms in the Hatch Valley |
| Product Formats | Jarred roasted green chile, sauces, salsas, queso, tortilla chips (shelf-stable) | Fresh whole chile, frozen roasted chile, sauces, dried pods, ristras |
| Freshness | Shelf-stable; processed and jarred for long shelf life | Fresh (seasonal Aug–Oct) or flash-frozen at peak roast; no shelf-stable processing on whole chile |
| Heat Range | Mild, Medium, Hot (jarred products) | Mild, Medium, Hot, X-Hot (~900–12,000+ SHU); choose by named variety |
| Where to Buy | Grocery stores nationwide, Amazon, 505southwestern.com | Ships direct from the farm at hatch-green-chile.com |
| Ownership | Acquired by Flagship Food Group in 2008; HQ in Greenwood Village, CO | Family-owned and operated; based in the Hatch Valley, NM |
| Price Posture | Grocery-shelf pricing | Farm-direct pricing; volume savings through bundle tiers |
When Each Option Makes Sense
When 505 Southwestern Makes Sense
- You want a jar of green chile sauce or salsa today and your grocery store carries it
- You need a shelf-stable product that does not require freezer space
- You are making a quick dip or topping and convenience matters most
- You want to try Hatch-style flavor without committing to a larger order
When Farm-Direct Makes Sense
- You want whole roasted chile—not a processed sauce—for stews, rellenos, and green chile cheeseburgers
- Freshness and flavor depth matter more than shelf life
- You want to choose a specific heat level and named variety (Big Jim, Sandia, Lumbre)
- You want to know exactly which family farm grew your chile
- You are stocking up—volume bundles bring the per-unit price down
505 Southwestern and Hatch Chile Store serve different needs. 505 made Hatch chile accessible on grocery shelves across the country—that is a real contribution. If you want the convenience of a jarred sauce or salsa you can grab on your next grocery run, 505 is a solid option. But if you want the full experience—whole fire-roasted chile with the smoky complexity, thick flesh, and range of heat levels that made Hatch Valley famous—it starts with the pepper itself, shipped direct from a sixth-generation family farm.
About 505 Southwestern
505 Southwestern was founded in 1997 when Albuquerque restaurateur Roy Solomon began jarring his popular green chile and selling it to patrons. The brand is named after New Mexico's 505 area code. In 2008, Flagship Food Group acquired the company, and corporate headquarters later moved to Greenwood Village, Colorado, though the brand maintains a manufacturing facility in New Mexico.
Today, 505 Southwestern products—including jarred green chile sauces, salsas, queso dips, and tortilla chips—are distributed in grocery stores across all 50 states and in the U.K. The company sells under the “505SW” and “Hatch Valley” labels and states that it uses Hatch Valley New Mexican chile in its products.
About Hatch Chile Store
Hatch Chile Store is the direct-to-consumer storefront for a sixth-generation Hatch Valley farming family. Giuseppe “Joseph” Franzoy arrived in the Hatch Valley in 1917, becoming the first commercial chile farmer in the region. Today the family grows, roasts, and ships New Mexico chile from the same valley—fresh during harvest season (August through October) and flash-frozen year-round.
The product line spans fresh whole green chile, flame-roasted frozen chile in four heat levels, green and red chile sauces, dried red chile pods, ristras, and seasonal items. With over 31,900 verified customer reviews, the store ships nationwide from the farm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about 505 Southwestern and Hatch Chile Store.
Is 505 Southwestern sauce made with real Hatch chile?
505 Southwestern states that its products use Hatch Valley New Mexican chile. Their sauces and salsas are commercially processed and jarred for shelf stability, which is a different product from fresh or frozen whole roasted chile. Both use real Hatch chile, but the format and flavor profile differ significantly.
Can I buy fresh Hatch chile from 505 Southwestern?
No. 505 Southwestern sells jarred, shelf-stable products—roasted green chile, sauces, salsas, queso, and chips. They do not sell fresh or frozen whole chile. For fresh Hatch green chile (seasonal) or frozen roasted whole chile (year-round), Hatch Chile Store ships direct from the farm at hatch-green-chile.com.
Where can I find 505 Southwestern products?
505 Southwestern products are available in grocery stores across all 50 U.S. states and in the United Kingdom, as well as on Amazon and the company’s own online store at 505southwestern.com. They are a retail brand designed for grocery-shelf distribution.
Is 505 Southwestern a New Mexico company?
505 Southwestern was founded in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1997 and is named after New Mexico’s 505 area code. The company was acquired by Flagship Food Group in 2008, and corporate headquarters moved to Greenwood Village, Colorado. The brand maintains a manufacturing facility in New Mexico.
What is the difference between jarred green chile—sauce or diced roasted, like 505 Southwestern’s—and frozen roasted green chile?
Jarred green chile—whether sauce or diced roasted, like 505 Southwestern’s—is a shelf-stable product made for grocery shelves. Frozen roasted green chile (like Hatch Chile Store’s) is whole fire-roasted pepper, flash-frozen at peak flavor with no additional processing. The frozen product has a thicker texture, more pronounced smoky flavor, and can be used as-is in stews and on burgers or as the base for your own sauce. The jarred product is more convenient but trades some of that fresh-roasted character for shelf life.
Ready for Farm-Direct Hatch Chile?
Six generations of growing, roasting, and shipping authentic Hatch Valley chile. Over 31,900 verified reviews. Shipped direct from the farm to your door.