OUR STORY

1914
It All Started in Italy
In 1914 Assunta, the mother of all sauces, and her husband Giovanni left Italy for America from the port of Naples with little more than a cherished family sauce recipe to their name.
Putting Down Roots in Rochester, NY
Literally. Assunta and Giovanni’s backyard garden grew the very tomatoes and herbs that would inspire their fresh tomato sauce and delicious meals, planting the humble beginnings of RAGÚ Sauce.
1937
The Great Depression
1937 brought tough times, but Assunta and Giovanni said “To heck with the Great Depression, let’s sell some sauce.” Then they put their marinara where their mouth was and sold their fresh, homemade tomato sauce right from their front porch.
'40s
The First Factory
By 1946, Assunta, Giovanni and their famous sauce had made quite a name for themselves. Their operation outgrew their kitchen and the first RAGÚ factory opened in Rochester, NY — allowing them to keep up with the incredible demand for everyone’s new favorite sauce.
The Rise of the Red Sauce
As the company grew, so did their commitment to keeping the highest standards of quality for every single batch of fresh tomato sauce.
'50s
An Iconic Makeover
As the brand continued to grow in the 50’s, the recognizable Venetian gondola was added to the packaging.
'60s
The Saucy 60’s
RAGÚ Sauce had quickly become a centerpiece on family dinner tables across the United States. An Italian tradition turned American classic, this sauce had the whole country talking in between delicious bites of our most popular recipes.
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'70s
“That’s Italian”
In the 70’s RAGÚ brand launched the famous ad campaign, and with two simple words defined an entire generation of home cooking. These classic commercials are still a reminder of our rich heritage.
'90s
RAGÚ Sauce Gets Cheesy
The classic Alfredo recipe was perfected and packaged in 1998. It was the first nationally distributed white sauce and is still wildly popular today.
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2017
Happy Anniversary!
In 2017, RAGÚ Sauce celebrated 80 years of bringing authentic Italian flavors to dinner tables across America.
2018
Back to Basics
Sometimes, simpler is better. That’s why in 2018 RAGÚ Simply Sauces were introduced, made with olive oil and no added sugar.

COOK LIKE A MOTHER

WITH THE SAUCE THAT STARTED IN AN ITALIAN MOTHER’S KITCHEN
From the first jar made in Assunta and Giovanni’s kitchen in 1937 to the one in your pantry, RAGÚ Sauce has been helping everyone cook like a mother for over 80 years.
SEE OUR SAUCES