Salsa Queen, the Utah salsa brand stocked on shelves at Harmons, Smith's and Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the Sandy area, is shutting down for good.

Owner SalsaQueen Zapata announced the closure in a Facebook post reported by The Salt Lake Tribune on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Feb. 14 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Utah, according to court records.

"This was never just a business to me," Zapata wrote. "It was my heart outside of my body. It was early mornings, late nights, lessons that humbled me, moments that made me so proud, and people who changed my life forever."

The closure ends a 12-year run for a brand that grew from Zapata's kitchen in Magna into a national operation. Originally from Mexico, Zapata started making salsa at home as a single mother of seven. When she became a U.S. citizen, she legally changed her name to SalsaQueen Zapata.

By the time the company filed for bankruptcy, Salsa Queen products had reached 1,000 stores in 30 states, including Costco, KSL reported. The salsas and dips were sold at Harmons, Smith's and Sprouts Farmers Market locations in the Sandy area.

Cash flow trouble preceded the filing

Signs of trouble surfaced in January, when the company emailed customers asking them to buy gift cards. Salsa Queen described the situation as a cash flow challenge it had been facing for several months, according to KSL. One month later, the company filed its Chapter 7 petition.

The case closed May 12.

Court records show it was classified as "no asset." The trustee reported claims totaling roughly $6 million, all scheduled to be discharged without payment. The company had listed between $100,000 and $500,000 in assets against $1 million to $10 million in liabilities, according to KSL's reporting of the filings.

Food Network appearance and what comes next

Zapata gained wider recognition in 2022 when her team competed on Season 15 of Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race," ABC4 reported at the time. The team placed seventh out of nine competitors.

In her Facebook post, Zapata said she plans to keep building and hinted at a future venture but gave no details or timeline.