BRINGING OUR SECRET SAUCE TO LIFE
How we partnered with Cherry Street Bar-B-Que to develop, launch, and scale its signature sauce into a retail brand.
It all started in Toronto
Cherry Street Bar-B-Que built a reputation around pit-smoked meats, cooked low and slow over live oak fire. Rooted in tradition and shaped by a chef-driven approach, the restaurant became known for doing BBQ right, with no shortcuts.
At the centre of it is chef and pitmaster Lawrence LaPianta, whose experience across the BBQ circuit shaped the level of craftsmanship behind the food. That approach earned Cherry Street a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand for four consecutive years, the only BBQ restaurant in Canada to receive the honour.
That same commitment and philosophy carried through to the signature sauce, crafted as one of Cherry Street’s secret weapons.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The sauce had been a staple from the beginning. It was only natural to take it beyond the restaurant.
Rather than reinventing it for retail, the focus was on building the right path to take it into a new context, creating a CPG brand that challenges the ordinary in the same way the restaurant does.
THE BUILD
Bringing it to market meant building everything around it.
From packaging to production and retail distribution, every decision was made to ensure the product could stand out and perform on shelf.
We developed a category-first packaging approach and built the operational foundation to support manufacturing and retail scale, carrying the same level of quality and intention into a new format.
This is the foundation of how we approach building products for retail.
WE DIDN’T GUESS.
WE TESTED.
Real-world validation shaped how the product was positioned and prepared for scale.
THE TEST
The product was introduced in specialty retail environments and focused distribution channels, where it could be tested in real conditions and build traction with the right audience.
That early feedback allowed us to validate performance, refine positioning, and prepare for broader retail expansion.
THE MOMENTUM
From those early foundations, the product has continued to grow across retail distribution, with a focus on performance and long-term growth
What started in focused channels has expanded into broader distribution, with a clear path toward national and international scale.
The focus remains the same: building steady momentum, supporting performance at shelf, and scaling in a way that stays true to the product.
SEE HOW
CHERRY STREET CONTINUES TO GROW BEYOND
THE RESTAURANT
TURN YOUR PRODUCT INTO A RETAIL BRAND
If you have a secret sauce,
we should talk.