In Pittsburgh, Janet and James Digber-Williams bottle slow-cooked tomato simmer sauces and spice blends rooted in African home cooking. The Saucy African grew from Janet’s late-night pots for friends and family into a shared effort to bring the rich, soulful flavors she grew up loving to everyday kitchens. Its jars are designed to make dishes such as jollof rice, stews and pasta approachable without losing their cultural character.
Uncle Jammy's Sauces & SeasoningsBorn from a late-night kitchen experiment in 2005, Uncle Jammy’s makes Pittsburgh-made BBQ sauces, hot sauces and rubs in small batches. Founded by Jamal Etienne-Harrigan, the brand pairs chef-developed recipes with a playful Steel City identity, from its signature avocado-jalapeño Area 51 sauce to an IPA collaboration created in just eight days. Its standard lineup uses real ingredients without high-fructose corn syrup, MSG or artificial fillers, and the flavors have earned multiple Scovie Awards.PITTSBURGH, PA
Jule's Tomato SauceJule’s Tomato Sauce makes small-batch jarred tomato sauces from the recipe Pa Vitelli first cooked at his Jersey City restaurant in 1962. After Jule’s Italian Restaurant served the Westside Avenue neighborhood for more than 40 years, his children brought that unchanged sauce back to home kitchens, including the red sauce used in the restaurant’s famously towering lasagna. The company also supplies its marinara to food-service kitchens in five-gallon packaging.
Danfo Gourmet SaucesChef Abi and Tosin Oluwatoye bottle specialty jerk BBQ sauces in Philadelphia, bringing together the culinary influences of Lagos, Afro-Caribbean cooking, and American barbecue. Danfo’s mild and spicy sauces grew from the couple’s restaurant experience and are made to move easily from grilling to dipping. The brand takes its name from Lagos’s lively danfo buses, a fitting emblem for sauces built around bold flavor and movement across food traditions.
Spanish Town KitchenFounded in 2013 by Pat Marrett, Spanish Town Kitchen makes small-batch Caribbean-inspired pantry foods, including jerk sauces, spice blends, and fruit preserves. Rooted in Spanish Town, Jamaica—Pat’s birthplace—the company honors Caribbean foodways while drawing inspiration from around the globe, with products designed for everyday cooking and made using ingredients sourced in part from partners who support small farmers. Its preserves and sauces are also crafted for pairings, from cheese boards to café and specialty-food shelves.