Jar Goods’ tomato sauces can do more than just enhance a simple plate of spaghetti. Their sauces, made with just a few premium ingredients, can elevate any home-cooked meal, from poultry and fish, to pizza, chilis and soups, tacos, and shakshuka. It’s the sauce you would make yourself, if only you had the time to do so. With the goal of becoming an “inner aisle disruptor,” Melissa Vitelli joined forces with her sister-in-law, Laura. Using an initial investment of $150, they began bottling Pa Vitelli’s tomato sauce by hand and branded it Classic Red. The early days of Jar Goods were not unlike other scrappy food start-ups - they sold at farmer’s markets and street fairs, they tested the market and proved their concept, they employed grass-roots efforts and a can-do spirit. Subsequently, Jar Goods amassed a loyal local following and they began getting Classic Red on store shelves. They graduated from self-produced to professionally packed and expanded the line with Classic Vodka and Classic Spicy in September 2015. One year later, they were offered a coveted spot in the Chobani Food Incubator and learned a great deal about how they could offer “Better Food For More People.” In the beginning, Jar Goods may have been oddly inspired by other brands, but now, their inspiration comes from the consumers. They are busy and fulfilled and don’t have time to cook from scratch. That is a triumph not to be exploited or condemned, but celebrated. They should not be relegated to bad quality because they also seek convenience. Jar Goods’ products shout from the shelf “I’ll help you out!” They believe in living and eating with mindful purpose, but with respect for the constraints of modern life. They are dedicated to democratizing quality and convenience and helping their consumer get dinner on the table easier, faster, and happier. Jar Goods is proud to be a female-founded, family-owned, certified women-owned business.
