AWSM Sauce

AWSM Sauce is a Pennsylvania-based condiment company that sells sauces and seasonings as dry powder packets rather than pre-mixed liquids in bottles. Customers add roughly one-third cup of water to a jar or bowl, pour in a powder packet and shake for about 15 seconds to produce finished sauce. The company name stands for "Avoid Waste and Season Meaningfully," and its stated mission is to remove single-use plastic from the kitchen; because water is not shipped with the product, the approach also reduces shipping weight and cost.

The product line at launch comprised three varieties — Classic Ketchup, Honey Hickory BBQ and Chesapeake Fire Sauce — sold in three-packet boxes, alongside an 8 oz reusable glass jar and bundled kits (Tester Kit, Starter Kit, World Saver Kit and a Pitch Pack variety pack). Products are marketed with gluten-free and vegan options and no preservatives. The founders said additional products were in development, including a yellow mustard planned for fall 2022, a Japanese barbecue sauce, and a ranch dipping sauce targeted for early 2023.

The company describes itself as the first sustainability-focused sauce brand and positions its powdered format against conventional bottled condiments in an industry that press coverage sized at roughly $130 billion annually.

Founding story

Co-founders Carl Starkey and Paul Lehmann met at Westtown School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where Lehmann was co-director of athletics and Starkey coached lacrosse. Both fathers, they noticed the volume of single-use plastic bottles in their own kitchens and set out to reformulate condiments as shelf-stable powders. After after-hours calls and months of test-kitchen work, they developed a patent-pending "powder-to-pour" process, moving from idea to first manufactured product in nine months. Starkey studied biology at St. Olaf College and previously founded lacrosse stick manufacturer Redline Lacrosse before working in technology; Lehmann studied mechanical engineering at the University of Rochester and worked as a teacher, administrator and coach.

Business model

AWSM Sauce sells branded powdered sauce mixes and reusable glass jars, operating across direct-to-consumer e-commerce and business-to-business channels, including foodservice placements such as stadium condiment dispensers.

Revenue comes from product sales: individual three-packet sauce boxes at $6, an 8 oz glass jar at $6, a variety Pitch Pack at $10, and bundled jar-and-sauce kits priced from $11.50 to $34.00, sold through the company's online store.

Traction

The founders raised $750,000 in pre-seed funding from friends, family and angel investors and completed a Techstars accelerator with the Minnesota Twins, leading to AWSM-branded ketchup dispensers at Target Field. Three retail SKUs launched in 2022 with additional flavors in development; a business directory listed roughly five employees and an estimated $1M-$10M revenue range as of August 2026.

Latest developments

Following its July 2022 Indiegogo stadium naming campaign, the company said it was expanding its lineup with yellow mustard, a Japanese barbecue sauce and a ranch dipping sauce, while continuing direct-to-consumer and B2B sales.