Entrepreneur creates sauces and goodwill
By Chris Michlewicz; photo courtesy of David Bloom
Castle Pines resident David Bloom (left) and former Denver Broncos offensive guard and TV personality Mark Schlereth (right) teamed up to launch Stinkin’ Good, a line of green chile and queso sauces that are sold in grocery stores throughout the southwest.
David Bloom is a shining example of the entrepreneurial spirit that runs deep in the City of Castle Pines.
Bloom, who lives in The Canyons neighborhood, is the man behind the recipe for Stinkin’ Good green chile sauce, a regional favorite that can be found on store shelves throughout the southwest and in concession stands in Denver’s biggest stadiums. It is also available locally at King Soopers and Costco.
Bloom co-founded the company with former Denver Bronco turned radio and TV personality Mark Schlereth and has acquired a devoted fan base since it launched in 2008. Now, Stinkin’ Good – derived from Schlereth’s nickname, “Stink” – has queso and a line of hot sauces and marinades in development.
COVID-19, of course, has taken a bite out of restaurant and concession stand sales, but the retail side of things has increased because people have been eating at home more often, according to Bloom.
Although Bloom’s mind is often on business, the father of four children (ages 19-25) finds time to get away from work and into the outdoors. He recently bought a gravel bike to traverse the existing and planned trails in his neighborhood, and he enjoys hiking and cheering on his sports teams.
But perhaps Bloom’s biggest passion is volunteering in the community. The brand launched its nonprofit arm, Stinkin’ Good Giving, in January 2019.
“I get to wake up every day and make fun recipes and post on social media, and I get to give back to people in need,” said Bloom, who has spent the last several Thanksgivings helping with a turkey drive for the Denver Rescue Mission. Green chile and queso are doled out to those who donate as an incentive.
In mid-November, the group had a food drive at King Soopers on Lagae Road to benefit the Help & Hope Center in Castle Rock. Stinkin’ Good also holds one or two major fundraising events each year.
An avid fan of ABC’s hit show, “Shark Tank,” Bloom is a creator by nature and he has ideas for 10 patents. Meanwhile, the green chile is a blend of four different recipes, including one from a friend of the family when Bloom was a child.
“I took what I liked out of all of them and made my own version,” he said.
Bloom started making the green chile for family gatherings, and the feedback told him he was onto something. A chance meeting and subsequent friendship with Schlereth set things into motion, and more than $20 million in sales later, the two friends are launching a new referral network, Mark’s All Pros, which connects “smart consumers with great companies,” Bloom said.
