BBQ Sauce start up cost?

Mwlovelace · Posted: Jan 04 2015 Post subject: BBQ Sauce start up cost?

i was curious if someone on here has started up a bbq sauce business on the side and if so, what kind of cost to start up? I was approached by the CEO of a grocery store chain that tried my sauce at a church event. They have over 100 stores in NC and Virginia. They focus on local companies and he said I should think about it seriously. He stated if I did, come see him. I've used it for my part time bbq catering business and had "dreams" of bottling professionally down the road. I understand the mark up is not very much and have looked into a co-pack possibility. I would need to send off for nutritional analysis, ex etc. The local stores here do not carry authentic "western style nc bbq sauce" and that is what I make (family recipe for many years, with a little tweaking).

I currently sale a 16 oz mason jar for $5, but moving to a sauce bottle (12 oz) for the same price.

If no one wants to respond here, you can PM me for conversation. Just wondering if it is really worth the initial start up cost and most cost effective approach!

Thank you, Mike
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SoEzzy · Posted: Jan 04 2015 Post subject:

http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/search.php go here, input copacker in the top box, you'll get 75 results that should answer most of your questions.
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Mwlovelace · Posted: Jan 04 2015 Post subject:

Thanks. I did a search trying bbq sauce and just sauce. Everything came up except what I was wanting Smile

Thank you
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Luke 15:3

Smokin Mike · Posted: Jan 04 2015 Post subject:

I see you're in my general area. If/when you go shopping for a co-packer take a look at Golding Farms right outside of Clemmons.

http://goldingfarms.com/golding-farms-business-to-business/

Edit: Just re-red your post. Disregard my suggestion since it looks like you're wanting to embark on the packing yourself.
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Mwlovelace · Posted: Jan 04 2015 Post subject:

I may be looking for copacker, so thanks for the heads up?
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Luke 15:3

SoEzzy · Posted: Jan 04 2015 Post subject:

If you have a HD approved commissary, you can get it written in to make small batches and bottle on site, the biggest problems are generally the step up from small scale, to a commercially viable setup.

The advantage of the copacker is reducing the capital investment with boilers and bottlers until you see if it's a seller.
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