Prepared cooking sauces remain popular for consumers and represent a $190 million category; up +6% versus prior year (Nielsen: Total U.S. x AOC 52 Weeks Ending 4/25/20). With exception of 2020’s shelter-in-place, Americans are spending less time preparing meals at home and cooking sauces represent a convenient alternative to creating recipes from scratch.
After dining out and trying a new flavor, consumers want to experiment with new tastes at home. American palates have recently taken their dining cues from fiery, authentic flavors of Latin, Asian, African and Indian cuisines. Adventure-seeking consumers celebrate the ethnic roots of spicy profiles, and sauces allow consumers to connect to the amazing flavors of a region right from grocery store shelves.