The C.F. Sauer Company

What The C.F. Sauer Company does

The C.F. Sauer Company, operating as Sauer Brands, is a 138-year-old U.S. food manufacturer headquartered in Richmond, Virginia that operates a multi-brand portfolio of condiments, seasonings, spices, and salsa. The portfolio is anchored by Duke's Mayo (acquired 1929, original 1917 recipe with no sugar added), Mateo's Gourmet Salsa (acquired 2022, America's fastest-growing salsa for three consecutive years), Kernel Season's (acquired 2020 via Chicago Custom Foods, the #1 popcorn seasoning in 38,000+ retail and foodservice outlets), and Spice Hunter (acquired 1999, 170+ spices and blends sourced from 12+ countries), with legacy Away-From-Home brands Gold Medal and Sauer's serving professional kitchens, plus BAMA for retail. The company manufactures across four U.S. facilities (Richmond VA, Mauldin SC, New Century KS, San Luis Obispo CA) and sells through national grocery chains (Costco, Walmart, Target, Publix, Kroger), foodservice distributors, and private-label manufacturing partners.

Revenue is generated through three streams: branded consumer packaged goods (the primary driver), private-label manufacturing for retail and away-from-home channels, and Away-From-Home commercial products for restaurant operators. The go-to-market combines enterprise field sales managing large retail accounts with dedicated Away-From-Home distribution to foodservice operators and distributors, supported by brand-building investments including the Duke's Mayo Bowl sponsorship and the 2026 "Mayo Is Coming" national campaign aimed at converting Duke's from a regional Southern brand into a national cultural brand. Sauer Brands was acquired by Advent International from Falfurrias Capital Partners in February 2025; under new CEO E. Yuri Hermida (ex-Sovos Brands, Constellation Brands) and a refreshed executive team, the company has stated an ambition to scale the portfolio as "one of America's leading flavor companies."

Name

The C.F. Sauer Company

Legal name

Sauer Brands Inc.

Website

https://sauerbrands.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sauer Brands is a Richmond, VA-based CPG platform (founded 1887) that manufactures and markets a portfolio of condiment, seasoning, spice, and salsa brands — including Duke's Mayo, Mateo's, Kernel Season's, and Spice Hunter — across U.S. retail, foodservice, and private-label channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Condiments and Seasonings

NAICS

Seasoning and Dressing Manufacturing (31194), Other Food Manufacturing (3119)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Condiments, Sauces & Dressings (CRADAAAB)

Keywords

• Condiment manufacturing
• Seasoning blends
• Private label foods
• Foodservice condiments
• Mayonnaise production

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Branded consumer packaged goods sales: Sale of proprietary condiment, seasoning, and spice brands (Duke's Mayo, Mateo's Gourmet Salsa, Kernel Season's, Spice Hunter, Sauer's, BAMA, Gold Medal) through retail and foodservice channels. The primary revenue driver.
2. Private label manufacturing: Sauer Brands produces high-quality private-label products for the retail and away-from-home channels, manufacturing at scale for leading partners across the country.
3. Away from home / foodservice commercial products: Sale of commercial products (Gold Medal, Sauer's Spices and Condiments, BAMA) to professional kitchens, restaurant operators, and foodservice distributors.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The C.F. Sauer Company, operating as Sauer Brands, manufactures and sells branded and private-label condiments, seasonings, spices, extracts, and dressings through retail grocery and away-from-home foodservice channels. Its portfolio spans consumer brands (Duke's Mayonnaise, Mateo's Gourmet Salsa, Kernel Season's popcorn seasonings, Spice Hunter spices, and BAMA) and foodservice lines (Sauer's Spices and Condiments, Gold Medal). The company also produces private-label dressings, sauces, and condiments for major retailers and foodservice operators from four U.S. manufacturing facilities.

Product overview

Sauer Brands is a portfolio of food flavor companies founded in 1887, operating as a platform of leading condiments and seasonings brands. The company produces a broad line of inspired flavors including condiments, spices, seasonings, and extracts. Core brands include Duke's Mayo (premium mayonnaise since 1917), Mateo's Gourmet Salsa (all-natural gourmet salsa, America's fastest-growing salsa for three years), Kernel Season's (America's #1 popcorn seasoning with 20+ flavors), and Spice Hunter (170+ spices and blends from over 12 countries). Additional brands include Gold Medal and Sauer's for foodservice, and BAMA Rich & Creamy for retail. The company also produces private label products for retail and away-from-home channels. Manufacturing facilities are located in Richmond, Virginia (HQ), Mauldin, South Carolina, New Century, Kansas, and San Luis Obispo, California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Duke's Mayo: A beloved mayonnaise brand founded in 1917, known for its tangy flavor with no sugar added. The fastest growing scaled player in the mayo category.
• Mateo's Gourmet Salsa
• Kernel Season's
• Spice Hunter
• Gold Medal
• Sauer's Spices
• Bama Rich and Creamy

Products and services

• Duke's Mayonnaise Iconic branded mayonnaise sold in U.S. retail grocery; based on a proprietary 1917 recipe using egg yolks and no added sugar, marketed for its richer, creamier taste profile versus mass-market mayonnaises. Targeted at home cooks and food enthusiasts.
• Mateo's Gourmet Salsa Branded gourmet salsa line offering Mediterranean-inspired flavor profiles, sold through U.S. grocery and specialty retail channels to at-home consumers.
• Kernel Season's Branded popcorn seasonings (and popcorn kernels/oils) sold through grocery, mass, and concession/away-from-home channels for at-home snacking and entertainment-venue use.
• Spice Hunter Branded retail line of spices, herbs, and seasonings distributed through U.S. grocery and natural/specialty retail for at-home cooking.
• BAMA Rich & Creamy Regional retail mayonnaise brand in Sauer's portfolio positioned against Duke's for value-driven shoppers.
• Sauer's Spices and Condiments (Away-From-Home) Foodservice/away-from-home product line of spices, seasonings, and condiments sold through foodservice distributors to restaurants, concessions, schools, and other institutional operators.
• Gold Medal (Foodservice) Long-standing Sauer foodservice brand offering dressings, sauces, and condiments sold through broadline foodservice distributors to operators in restaurants, lodging, and institutional channels.
• Private Label Manufacturing Contract-manufactured dressings, sauces, and condiments produced at Sauer's four U.S. plants under retailer-owned and foodservice-customer brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Duke's Mayo is the fastest-growing scaled player in the mayo category and the seventh fastest-growing brand in the center of store.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duke's Mayo BowlcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 January 2026The Duke's Mayo Bowl is an annual college football bowl game hosted in Charlotte, NC. Duke's Mayo serves as the title sponsor, transforming the game into a full-scale brand experience with immersive activations, the iconic 'mayo dump' tradition on the winning coach, and mascot Tubby. The sponsorship has been a cornerstone of Duke's brand-building and national expansion strategy.
• The Giving KitchenminorOthers · 3 January 2026Duke's Mayo donated $10,000 to The Giving Kitchen (charity of choice by Wake Forest Coach Jake Dickert) as part of the 2026 Duke's Mayo Bowl. Additionally, 10% of proceeds from the Duke's x Girl Tribe Co. collection benefit The Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency financial assistance to food service workers.
• Girl Tribe Co.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2025Duke's Mayo partnered with Girl Tribe Co., a Charlotte-based women-owned clothing brand founded in 2014, on a five-piece co-branded clothing collection launched March 5, 2025. The collection includes crewneck sweatshirt, t-shirt, trucker hat, tote bag, and sticker. Ten percent of proceeds benefit The Giving Kitchen, which provides emergency assistance to food service workers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TreeHouse Foods: Pure-play private-label food manufacturer with broad center-store capability including condiments, sauces, and seasonings. Direct comparison to Sauer Brands' private-label manufacturing business, which supplies major grocers and foodservice operators.
• Campbell Soup Company: Owns Pace Foods, the leading branded salsa in the U.S. Pace is the most direct comparable to Mateo's Gourmet Salsa and competes on the same shelf at Walmart, Kroger and Costco.
• McCormick & Company: Global leader in spices, seasonings, and condiments (including French's mustard). Operates a portfolio of branded flavor platforms and private-label manufacturing comparable in structure to Sauer Brands' Spice Hunter, Gold Medal, and away-from-home brands.
• B&G Foods: Diversified specialty branded food company that acquires and scales CPG brands (Orville Redenbacher, Green Giant, Crisco). Closely comparable platform-of-brands model that has been active in condiment and seasoning categories.

Broad incumbents

• Conagra Brands: Large diversified CPG company with overlapping categories including condiments, sauces, popcorn snacks (Orville Redenbacher), and frozen/meal products. Competes with Sauer Brands across multiple shelves but is broader in scope.
• The Kraft Heinz Company: Mega-cap CPG incumbent in condiments (Heinz ketchup, Kraft mayonnaise/Miracle Whip). Most direct scaled competitor to Duke's Mayo and a dominant fixture in the category's retail shelf.
• Hormel Foods: Diversified food company with condiments and foodservice segments (Skippy, Spam, Justin's, Herdez salsa brand). Competes with Sauer Brands in salsas and branded foodservice categories through a much broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Mizkan Holdings: Japanese-headquartered condiment and sauce manufacturer (Ragu pasta sauces, Bertolli, Mizkan vinegar). Comparable to Sauer Brands as a multi-brand condiment platform, though anchored in different geographies and categories.

Emerging players

• Primal Kitchen: Specialty condiment brand focused on avocado-oil mayonnaise, sauces and dressings, founded by Mark Sisson. Targets the same premium, better-for-you condiment consumer that Duke's and Mateo's increasingly attract.
• Litehouse Foods: Private-label and branded manufacturer of refrigerated dressings, dips, sauces, and cheese. Closely comparable in size, channel mix (retail + foodservice), and category specialization to Sauer Brands' away-from-home and condiments operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sauersrva
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-c--f--sauer-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The C.F. Sauer Company