Operators in 2025 are reporting a 34 percent increase in food costs, according to TouchBistro’s 2025 State of the Restaurants Report. With that in mind, operators are simultaneously trying to drive traffic, reinforce consumer relationships, and supply high-quality ingredients—while also cutting costs to avoid further price increases across menus.
It’s rare for operators to find a producer who can meet all these needs, but Red Gold does just that. “Big brands are owned by massive corporations where tomato sauce is just one of hundreds of products,” says Colt Reichart, senior director of marketing at Red Gold. “At Red Gold, tomatoes are our main focus.”
Why is this important for operators to consider? Because vendors who specialize in a single category often perfect it—delivering higher-quality products with more effective pricing.
A common misconception is that pre-made sauces and dips can’t match the quality of products made in-house. However, in some cases, that simply isn’t true. That’s why Red Gold offers a robust free sample program.
“The fact that operators can actually taste it by ordering a free sample—that’s our biggest conversion,” says Megan Rhetts, foodservice marketing manager at Red Gold. “Once they taste it, they buy it.”
This confidence stems from over 80 years of experience, spanning four generations of the Reichart family. With eight distinct brands—Red Gold, Redpack, Sacramento, Tuttorosso, Vine-Ripe, Migliore, and Teresa—Red Gold delivers high-quality tomato-based sauces crafted with a made-from-scratch approach that ensures freshness and exceptional flavor.“Red Gold provides consistent quality at a price operators can afford,” Rhetts says. “We’re really a high-quality product at a value-based price, which makes us a great fit in the market.”
To stay competitive, operators must also keep up with trends—incorporating innovative LTOs, trendy flavors, and customization into menus. Using sauces in creative ways is a smart strategy to target evolving consumer tastes while reducing SKUs.
Tomato-based sauces have always been popular in the U.S., and restaurants continue using them to drive interest in safe experimentation for consumers. From IHOP’s Coney Island Pizza Omelette featuring marinara sauce to the classic meatball sub, tomato sauces can be used in exciting ways to delight customers.
Furthermore, market trends reveal the continued popularity of these sauces. Marinara sauce as a dip for chicken strips is up 4 percent from last year, and as a dip overall, it’s up 2 percent, according to Datassential.
Consistency and quality go hand in hand, which is why Red Gold takes a fresh-pack approach—ensuring tomatoes are canned within hours of harvest for peak flavor.
“Red Gold’s Tuttorosso line is made from fresh tomatoes,” Rhetts says. “That already gives it a slow-simmered homemade taste and made-from-scratch feel after high quality.”
Beyond quality, versatility is key. Red Gold’s lineup allows chefs to do more with fewer SKUs, making it easy to scale menus and experiment with LTOs. Whether it’s fully prepared sauces for quick applications or base sauces that allow customization, Red Gold provides operators with flexibility—without compromise.
At the end of the day, operators need solutions that balance cost, quality, and efficiency. Red Gold makes that decision easy by providing premium, made-from-scratch tomato sauces that deliver consistency, versatility, and unbeatable flavor.
Most operators don’t have the time, labor, or consistency to create the tomato products that Red Gold offers through its brands, like the Italian-inspired Tuttorosso. “Operators don’t have the space or time to make sauces from scratch at the level we do,” Rhetts says. “That’s a huge advantage for them.”
But Red Gold isn’t asking operators to take their word for it. That’s why the company works closely with them to provide the best product for their menus—offering free samples so operators can test Red Gold tomato sauces against their current options.
Request a free sample today and see how Red Gold can transform your menu.
