Sauz, a fast-growing brand with a fresh take on tomato sauce, announced the completion of a $12 million funding round with Cavu Consumer Partners.
This investment will help to accelerate Sauz's retail growth and expand its offerings as it responds to a generation with increasing expectations of unique food experiences.
The round of funding also saw involvement from veteran investors like Strand Equity, Palm Tree Crew, and Coefficient Capital. The funds will go toward enhancing marketing, boosting brand visibility, and building distribution channels. Sauz has set a target to add more flavor SKUs and build an online presence by 2025, riding the changes in consumer preferences, most notably in the Gen-Z group.
Troy Bonde, Sauz co-founder, and CEO, was optimistic regarding the Cavu collaboration, commenting, "We have lots of exciting things in store for the future, and with the backing of Cavu, we're now set to double down on this vision with even more speed". This is part of a larger trend in the food market where consumer brands are looking to capitalize on innovative flavors and packaging as a means to stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Sauz has seen tremendous growth from day one, with a stellar 148% overall revenue growth and a 250% growth in online sales. The brand has now placed itself on the shelves of almost 7,000 retail outlets in the US, including big-box retailers like Target, Whole Foods, and Kroger. With seven different sauce varieties, Sauz is not only gaining shelf space but also realizing best-in-class velocities in retail sales.
Jared Jacobs, CAVU Consumer Partners partner, commented on the opportunity for disruption in the pasta sauce category as follows: "Today's pasta sauce aisle is a sea of sameness. Sauz is bringing modern flavors and bold branding to a pantry staple that's ripe for disruption." This is in line with a growing trend on the part of consumers to seek out goods that offer bold and adventurous taste experiences.
Founded by childhood friends Troy Bonde and Winston Alfieri, Sauz came into being as a response to reinvent the traditional tomato sauce experience. The brand produces a series of creative flavor options, such as Hot Honey Marinara, Summer Lemon Marinara, and Miso Garlic Marinara, each intended to spark creativity in the kitchen. Not only does this reinvent a staple item but also caters to the growing demand for quality, flavorful ingredients for everyday cooking.
Alfieri, co-founder and CMO, mentioned the mission of the brand to make cooking more enriching: "Cooking is a moment to try new foods and new flavors, and that's why we're on a mission to introduce unexpected ingredients to a product that's as accessible and convenient as tomato sauce".
As per coherent market insights, the canned tomato industry has been anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR over 2025-2032. The market will be growing at a substantial pace during the forecast period. Market size is influenced by the changing consumer preference for convenient and easy-to-use foods.
As Sauz continues to explore the competitive food environment, Cavu Consumer Partners support should position the company to push for even greater growth and deeper access to new grocery offerings. The brands focus on quality in the use of quality ingredients and distinct flavor profiles places the company in a unique position to appeal among a broad spectrum of consumer audience who are looking for more from their culinary experiences.
With new product launches and retail partnerships in the pipeline, Sauz is ready to influence and establish new consumer expectations for the pasta sauce category and lead the charge to a new generation of food product launches that prioritize taste and quality through innovative creations.
Source:
Ecommerce PLatform: FOODBEV MEDIA Ltd.
Company: Sauz
