Foodservice brands in the QSR, LSR, and fast-casual spaces are all hopping on this year’s most flavorful trend: taking their signature sauce from back-of-house to retail shelves and marketing these private label sauces directly to consumers. More and more restaurant brands are launching private label sauces to capture consumer interest, increase brand loyalty, introduce new revenue streams, and leverage existing brand equity. Read on to find out why.
Why Bring Private Label Sauces to Retail?
Before the popularization of private label food products, restaurant brands could only reach consumers in one place: their restaurants. Now, brands can reach consumers in physical retail and e-commerce spaces, increasing brand exposure in a major way. But we’re also seeing other factors driving private label sauces in retail settings:
- Increased consumer demand: Industry-wide, we’re seeing an increased demand for restaurant-quality flavors at home. Consumers also like testing out new sauces at home before splurging on dining out. As many as 34% of consumers consider what sauces and condiments are available when deciding on a restaurant (Technomic 2024). With private label sauces, these consumers can try their favorite foodservice brand’s signature sauce at home, helping brands extend their reach and enhance brand loyalty.
- Revenue possibilities: The financial benefits of retail sales can’t be ignored. Private label products can create an entirely new revenue stream outside of day-to-day restaurant operations. Like we mentioned above, customers purchasing signature sauces in stores can strengthen their affinity for the brand overall, leading to more frequent restaurant visits.
How Private Label Sauces Drive Differentiation
Consumer demand, increased revenue, and boosted reach aside, there’s one more major reason why private label sauces are a smart investment for foodservice brands: differentiation. Put simply, private label sauces set a foodservice brand apart on crowded grocery shelves. Customers who are familiar with a restaurant’s branding could be more likely to reach for that brand’s signature sauce, especially compared to a competitor’s brand that they’ve never tried. That level of familiarity and brand recognition, along with consistency between in-restaurant and retail experiences, goes a long way toward building and maintaining customer trust.
How Giraffe Foods Can Help Bring Your Signature Sauces to Retail
There’s never been a better time for foodservice brands to bring private label sauces to the retail market. Working with a partner like Giraffe Foods means:
- Help with formulation: Giraffe Foods has an in-house R&D team to formulate, refine, and scale up your signature sauces for retail success. This ensures consistency and flavor integrity across the customer experience, from in-restaurant dining to the grocery store.
- Regulatory expertise: Our regulatory team has the expertise to ensure that your product complies with all necessary certifications, including non-GMO, halal, vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and organic. This helps make your product accessible to a broader market, and it also guarantees your product will maintain total regulatory compliance across the production process.
- Production and packaging capabilities: Giraffe Foods offers packaging solutions as a trusted co-packing manufacturer for our foodservice partners. This ensures that our partners’ sauces are efficiently formulated, bottled, and shipped to grocery shelves.

In today’s competitive grocery market, products like private label sauces offer a unique way for foodservice brands to build and maintain a loyal customer base. Custom sauces are delicious on their own– but they also offer delicious revenue-building and brand recognition possibilities for foodservice operations of all sizes.
Are you curious about the private label foods market? Lean on the capabilities of our team at Giraffe Foods. Our culinary experts can elevate restaurant classics, creating value-added retail products that will delight established and new customers alike. By partnering with private label sauce manufacturers like Giraffe Foods, you can capitalize on retail trends and build real loyalty among your customer base. Let’s kick off your private label journey today.