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Start up for new food product needs comments/advice

totobitmetotobitme subscriber Posts: 1
edited December 2008 in Startup Funding
Good Day.
After five years and hundreds of recipes, I have developed a fabulous new pizza sauce as a tasty alternative to traditional tomato sauce.  For you who immediately ask why we need an alternative to traditional tomato sauce, I ask why we need flavors besides vanilla and chocolate for ice cream?  For nearly six decades, billions of tomato sauce pizzas have been made and consumed as if there couldn`t possibly be an alternative to tomato sauce.  Last year, 3 billion (pizzeria) pizzas were consumed in the United States ($32 billion).  Of these, 99.99% were made with tomato sauce. Based on these statistics, don`t you think it`s time for a change?
I did and the effort was worth it.  After perfecting my sauce I began trying it out on pizza lovers.  Many were skeptical and many came to the tests with their minds made up they weren`t going to like it.  After eating the new sauce, they couldn`t wait to eat it again.  Almost to a man/woman/child, they preferred the new sauce to the old tomato sauce. (FYI, this isn`t pesto or any other pizza sauce you have tried before)
The reason it took so long to develop the sauce was because of the ingredients and processes it took to make it the same as tomato sauce EXCEPT in taste.  In order to be an alternative to tomato sauce, it had to be usable in the exact same way as tomato sauce.  So, it had to spread the same, cost the same, cook the same, interact with traditional spices, toppings and herbs the same, spread the same, interact with pizza dough the same and not require any new equipment or handling in the average pizzeria kitchen.  As I said, it took a while but the result is fantastic.
Here is my question.  Originally, I intended to open a proof of concept restaurant and then open new restaurants from there.  But as I talked to business people about my plans, several suggested starting out with one restaurant might not be the way to go.  They said by the time I could open a couple of pizzerias, my competitors would have a similar sauce and my chance to be the BIG DOG in the new sauce arena would be gone forever.  Some of them suggested I should partner with someone with the money and expertise to exploit the sauce quickly to become the BIG DOG in the new sauce market.  Others suggested I license the sauce to an existing pizza company.
Unfortunately, I don`t have the contacts to do either.  All of my attempts to contact pizza industry execs have been fruitless.  Until I figure out what is the smartest course to take, I can`t really move forward.
So, I wonder if any of you who have been in a similar position (with another product) have any advice as to what I should do next?  Any thoughts or comments will be greatly appreciated.
Oh, by the way, the sauce is exquisite on pasta.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Daniel Adams

Comments

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    robertjrobertj subscriber Posts: 0 Member
    Daniel,
     
    I can`t tell you which approach would be best for you - but I will say that you need to get clarity on your direction. While each "option" is basically viable,  each has a set of "success factors". So my advice would be to make an informed decision - based upon these factors, your goals and an objective evaluation of your capabilities.
     
    Send me a PM if you want to discuss specifics
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