Meet Brannon Haley of Surprise

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brannon Haley.

Hi Brannon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As a young child growing up in a large family I took a liking of watching my Mother, Aunt Jackie and my loving Granny Nancy Brown cooking and baking away everyday and on holidays. I was about 8 years old when I was aloud to help in the kitchen and even at times prepared breakfast for my siblings and I. My passion for cooking started to grow more and more in my teen years. I use to love watching two of my favorite Chefs. One was Justin Wilson and Yan of Yan Can Cook! I seen their joy and passion in the preparation multiple dishes over many episodes. What I learned from my influences in culinary atmosphere food should enjoyable, flavorful, fun and brings people together.
2003 was the beginning of a new journey of where the continued passion of my culinary passion. I took my experience that I had learned from various companies in food industry and serving over 2000 students and 300 staff members at a local high school. My Aunt Jackie stated “You should start your own catering business”. So Heavenly Host Catering was born. Fast forward to 2013 I decided to change the name to give a new life to a business I had a passion for. EATZ & TREATZ was born and I had adopted the Phoenix as my logo.
Fast-forward 2021 I couldn’t go back to work due to COVID pneumonia (on ventilator) in December 2020. Due to the medication I was on I was unable to drive school buses anymore and long COVID issues. August 2021 I met Christian Smith of Smiths Farmers market. I told him I have a salsa that I make, what can I do to sell at your market. He told me what I needed to do and I left him samples to enjoy. Less than a month I had retuned and ready to go. We met many wonderful people and businesses over the course of the journey.
Now as of 2025 from our start with our roasted salsa. EATZ & TREATZ LLC has grown to 12 signature sauces and 12 signature seasoning blends with more to come. Including multiple awards from Community Votes. We have a website, you can find our products in Troub’s Butcher Shop and The Office Toolbox both located in Surprise, and Saturdays from 7:30 am -12:00 pm at the Downtown PHX Farmers market.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has been a unique journey. There have been rough and smooth moments in the road. Starting out not knowing what to do, where to start, not having the resources, business credit or working capital. You learn by trial and error. Fortunately we met a few good people along the way to point us in the necessary direction, Thank you TJ and Lovey of Simply Raw Honey.
When starting out most individuals are not eager to help or give you advice. They view you as the competition (enemy). Which is sad because every great company had their start somewhere and there is plenty of customers for everyone. Whether it was the trunk of the car, Church kitchen after service and even their garage nonetheless they started.
More on a personal level I am single father of four children. The challenges of dealing with three of the 4 children have some form of mental health or anxiety issues and IEP’S at school where I am a paraprofessional and basketball coach at a K-8th charter school in Glendale, AZ. Being able to meet their needs, maintain a full time job and find the time to run a business. It’s hard and not for the weak. I try to instill values and teach my children the value of entrepreneurship and customer service. As a father I wear many hats and despite what happens I must push forward. By this I show them the true strength of love.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Paraprofessional at Heritage Elementary. I have worked with students from 1st grade to 8th grade. The students find me as a loveable funny Mr. Haley. I’m good working with students in and outside the classroom from academics, behavioral issues, building bridges from diversity that may arise, and on the basketball court. I had the pleasure to help coach along side with Coach Mitchell and Coach Ward.
I love the relationships I have built while being at Heritage. I started as a parent taking my children to the preschool program about 8 years ago. I have built a special bond with some of the teachers due to being a parent of my students. I join the Heritage staff in 2023. When this happened I didn’t realize the profound impact I would have with the student and parents. Some of the parents felt a form of relief knowing I’m there on campus and that their student will be safe and have someone to go to if an issue should ever arise. Being able to coach and teach along side with them. Being there for them when questions that come up and they don’t feel comfortable talking to other staff members. I have had the pleasure to be able to give a few nuggets of knowledge to some of the graduates that you won’t learn from a text book as they embark on the new journey of high school.
I believe most of my life experiences and the passion to work with children. I grew up as a military brat, my dad was a Drill Sargent in the US Army for about 14 years, being the eldest of 12 siblings and living throughout the United States. Many skills, experience and talents was instilled in me early. Being able to incorporate all this experience, knowledge, and wisdom into the individual that I am today is what sets me apart.

What matters most to you?
What matters to me is bringing people together through food. Most of my best memories was growing up and seeing family come together during the holidays. Seeing the laughter, joy and not a care in the world surrounded at the dinner table. Seeing the fast pace of society, the distance that technology has created between people especially families and friends. What better way to bring people together, drop their guard, smile, laugh and partake together by coming back to the table. Enjoy something that we already have to do on a daily basis, EAT! If you can enjoy every other aspects of life, then food must definitely must be in the list.

Pricing:

• Catering available (varies)
• $13 per bottle, 2 /$25, 3/$35
• Flavor Tour $100, Deluxe Flavor Tour $130
• 4oz Seasoning $8 or 3/$20, 16oz Seasoning $15
• Bulk and Wholesale pricing available

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eatztreatzaz.com
• Instagram: @eatz.treatzaz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eatzandtreatzaz
• LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/in/eatz-treatz-9314a7280
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@brannonhaley