Wegmans Sells Grandma’s Sauce

SN STAFF

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Grandma would be proud of the jarred pasta sauce at Wegmans Food Markets. After all, she’s the namesake.

The retailer relaunched two of its private-label jarred sauces under “Grandma’s” and “Grandpa’s” names.

“Wegmans’ Italian Classics Grandma’s Pomodoro” is the new name of what previously was called “Wegmans’ Italian Classics Pomodoro.” Likewise, Grandpa’s Sauce is the name of what formerly was called “Italian Sausage and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.”

The name was born when Dan Mezzoprete, Wegmans' Italian food category merchant, casually mentioned that the sausage variety reminded him of a sauce his grandfather made.

“I just love the hearty flavor,” Mezzoprete wrote in a blog posted at wegmans.com. “It has a nice sausage taste with a little kick.”

Danny Wegman, Wegmans’ chief executive officer, who was in the room at the time Mezzoprete made the comment, smiled and suggested the company should call it “Grandpa’s Sauce.”

“And…so we did,” Mezzoprete wrote.