Who does not like to try flavourful recipes? But a good recipe becomes excellent if served with a special sauce. Onside Media spoke to Charles Forbes, Founder, Island Sauce. He tells us about his sauce business and how his business is dealing with the ongoing pandemic.
Tell us about your business?
I always had an interest in doing something within the food industry, so in late 2019, before the world had shut down, I decided to gather up a team of like-minded and dedicated people to start up Island Sauce. Today we are one year old, with a group of 5 Caribbean natives and different contractors and helping hands that we bring on board from time to time.
What are the different kinds of products you offer?
Our primary and most selling product is Souse BBQ sauce, a sweet Caribbean BBQ sauce that can be used as a dipping sauce or a marinade. We are also planning to launch new flavors in the coming months. Our products are priced from $7 for 8oz to $10 for 16oz.
What differentiates your product from others in the market?
Our sauces are made traditionally and what makes us different from any other product in the market is our unique style and our unorthodox approach to the business. We don’t only provide you with great food products, but great content as well!
How diverse is your target audience?
Our target audience is anyone that loves BBQ and wants to try something new!
Where can consumers purchase your products?
Consumers can purchase our products from our website and also from www.amazon.ca. Our products are also available at few retail outlets in the GTA.
- Sanagan’s Meat Locker – 176 Baldwin St, Toronto, ON M5T 1L8
- Gour meats – 2946 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 1Y8
- The Meat Dept – 207 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1N2
- The Savvy butcher – 15 Ashby Field Rd #7, Brampton, ON L6X 0R3
Any difficulties you faced while starting the business?
With any business, you’re going to come into contact with some hassles initially, but it wasn’t anything that we couldn’t overcome all in all.
How did you pivot your business during the pandemic? How were you doing pre-pandemic, and how is it going now?
It was kind of hard at first, as most of our sauces required people to be cooking outside, but we adapted and taught people how our products can be used in everyday meals, apart from traditional outdoor BBQ grilling.
What support do you need right now to take your business to the next level?
Today, we are ready to make our next push that is to distribute nationally. We need to start spending more on marketing and creating awareness among prospective consumers that our products are a must-have in your kitchens.
Any Words of Wisdom to young entrepreneurs?
All I can say is that if you have an idea for a business, stop overthinking, start where you are, use all your knowledge of what you have, and do everything you can to make your dreams a reality.
For More information kindly visit:
Website: https://www.islandsauceinc.com/shop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandsauceinc/
Author: Yugbodh, Onside Media, Toronto, Canada. If you have stories to share kindly email: – info@theonside.com
