Last updated on June 13th, 2024
Original Uncle Dougie’s is set to debut a line of USDA-certified organic barbecue sauces in a squeeze pouch tomorrow (March 1) in response to research conducted with more than 1,000 consumers.
“We talked to men and women across the country who are heavy barbecue sauce users. They’re a confident bunch and they had very straightforward feedback,” said CEO Rob Johnson. “They wanted an organic product to cut through the clutter of health claims. They wanted it to be different than the standard, boring BBQ sauce flavors out there. And frankly, they were tired of dealing with the messy cap and spout and never being able to get the last 10 percent of the sauce out of the typical glass and plastic bottles.”
Uncle Dougie’s says it set out to design a solution to those issues when it developed the line of organic barbecue sauces packaged in inverted squeeze pouches. The line debuted at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.
Chicago-based Original Uncle Dougie’s says its products have developed a loyal following in the U.S. and Canada because they are natural, gluten-free, preservative-free, non-GMO and were made only in small batches “before it was a thing,” said Doug “Uncle Dougie” Tomek, who founded the company.
The new USDA-certified Organic line includes:
- Organic Rich Hickory Bourbon (Way More Than) BBQ Sauce
- Organic Sweet Ginger Buzz (Way More Than) BBQ Sauce
- Organic Chile ‘N’ Lime (Way More Than) BBQ Sauce
- Organic Lemongrass Habanero (Way More Than) BBQ Sauce
- Organic Bang-Yum Chipotle Dragon (Way More Than) BBQ Sauce
“We wanted to introduce some new, interesting, yet accessible flavors—flavors cooks would find different from the standard sauces, but something that would be super versatile that everyone would enjoy,” Johnson said.
He said the packaging is what makes the line “a real break from the category.
“The inverted squeeze pouches make it easier for cooks to use our sauces in recipes or for dipping. It also virtually eliminates the mess that typically collects around the lip of typical bottles. We think it’s going to change consumers’ expectations for barbecue sauce,” Johnson added.
Johnson said that the shape and design of the PET-free pouches aids in communicating with consumers. Each flavor has its own bright color to make the line more visible on the retail shelf; SRP $4.99 per 13.5-oz. pouch.
The new products join a lineup of Uncle Dougie’s sauces, drink mixes, hot sauces and dry rubs. The company’s products can be found at Whole Foods Market, Mariano’s, Albertsons, Jewel, Lucky’s Markets, Woodman’s Markets and other grocers.
