# Please, not my spaghetti sauce! (Campbell acquires the Rao's Brand) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 7, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212 "2023-08-07T21:43:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/1 "2023-08-07T21:43:03Z")
I’m a big fan of Rao’s products. Having relocated from NY to California, I miss the Italian food more than anything. Rao’s was the first sauce I tasted since moving here that scratched that NY itch. From their line of sauces, I ventured into their soups, pasta, and frozen items (the meatballs in marinara are delicious). Today, Campbell Foods [announced they have acquired the Rao’s brand](https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/campbell-acquire-raos-premium-sauces-parent-company-27/story?id=102071512). Perhaps this won’t change anything, or perhaps it will all become inedible. I’m hoping for the best, but fearing the worst. It has me wondering - am I alone in my love for all things Rao-related? Or have I just been away from the East Coast for so long that my standards have diminished? I should add that I understand that no jarred sauce or frozen meatball is a good substitute for the real thing, especially homemade. Nothing will ever taste like meatballs and gravy made by an 80-year old Italian grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/2 "2023-08-07T21:54:32Z")
I love Rao’s sauce and use it all the time. Hopefully this won’t change the recipe, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/3 "2023-08-07T22:05:41Z")
I will always assume the national brand is getting it’s ass kicked and will downgrade the newly acquired brand until it goes away. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/4 "2023-08-07T22:15:33Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I will always assume the national brand is getting it’s ass kicked and will downgrade the newly acquired brand until it goes away That is certainly the risk. I was a big fan of Stone IPA until they were bought by Sapporo. I noticed a quality change right away, and not for the better. If nothing else, I supposed Rao’s has proven that there is a significant market for a higher end sauce, even if it costs more. If they ruin Rao’s, hopefully someone else will step up with a suitable replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/5 "2023-08-07T22:25:36Z")
Damn. I just bought a bunch of Rao’s pasta because it was on sale - it’s one of those products where I always stock up when it’s bogo. I don’t think Campbell’s has simple red sauce and dry pasta in their brand portfolio, so I expect them to downgrade the quality and price to get in line with its other stuff. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/6 "2023-08-07T22:29:15Z")
May I ask what the secret ingredient is in Rao products that makes them so expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/7 "2023-08-07T22:42:38Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I don’t think Campbell’s has simple red sauce and dry pasta in their brand portfolio, so I expect them to downgrade the quality and price to get in line with its other stuff. They already own Prego. I don’t know if they have a dry pasta brand, but they’ve got horrible pasta sauce covered. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/8 "2023-08-07T22:43:11Z")
I predict a Tomato soup tasting sauce now. Gah!! ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/9 "2023-08-07T22:47:27Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > They already own Prego. I don’t know if they have a dry pasta brand, but they’ve got horrible pasta sauce covered. - I just tried to compare. The Prego site was unreachable due to a DNS error. Nice to see their IT department is on the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/10 "2023-08-07T22:48:58Z")
Time to stock up on the OG Rao’s. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/11 "2023-08-07T23:13:55Z")
It’s regularly available at Costco if you want to stock up. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/12 "2023-08-07T23:14:21Z")
My favorite is Mids. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/13 "2023-08-07T23:17:54Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > May I ask what the secret ingredient is in Rao products that makes them so expensive? No [extraneous crap](https://www.costcuisine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/b1c1b8_3f974079698e4edfa8f0c6d1a6e40af3-mv2.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/14 "2023-08-08T01:14:51Z")
No added sugar, either. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/15 "2023-08-08T01:21:01Z")
I’d never heard of the brand before now, but if the sauces (such as marinara) aren’t excessively sweet like most pre-fab sauces of that type, I’d give them a try. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/16 "2023-08-08T01:35:07Z")
I have only used the Rao’s bottled marinara sauce, but I do find it the best. The [LA Times](https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2021-05-13/official-pasta-sauce-power-rankings) said that Victoria White Linen, sold at east coast COSTCO stores, is even better, but I tried it and disagree. P.S. Should have said that I have very little sense of smell, so my food recommendation are questionable! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/17 "2023-08-08T12:27:39Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > No [extraneous crap](https://www.costcuisine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/b1c1b8_3f974079698e4edfa8f0c6d1a6e40af3-mv2.jpg). From the link: **Ingredients:** Italian whole peeled tomatoes, olive oil, onions, salt, garlic, basil, black pepper, oregano That’s pretty simple stuff. I understand that sometimes you just want to open a jar of something and dump it on cooked pasta, but a sauce of that sort is very easy to make. Even on a busy weeknight you could put a sauce like that together from scratch in about the time it takes to boil water and cook pasta. Maybe make lemons from lemonade! Stock up on some cans of good quality San Marzano-style tomatoes and the other ingredients, and make your own sauce that will be even better than Rao’s. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/18 "2023-08-08T12:38:40Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Even on a busy weeknight you could put a sauce like that together from scratch in about the time it takes to boil water and cook pasta. I used to make the basic recipe here, and it was very good (and I thought that even back when my sense of smell was better): > **[Consumer Reports spaghetti sauce recipe that I've been carrying around for 30...](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/61291244908156148/)** > > Oct 10, 2016 - Consumer Reports spaghetti sauce recipe that I've been carrying around for 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/19 "2023-08-08T12:41:15Z")
> [@solost](#): > > sauce of that sort is very easy to make. Super easy. But, as you say, sometimes you just want a jar of sauce. Maybe grocery shopping is around the corner and you don’t have an onion and a head of garlic. Maybe you’re just feeling extra lazy or extra harried. Maybe you hate cooking. Whatever. Hell, sometimes I even buy the really _shitty_ jarred stuff because it tastes like growing up. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2023, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/20 "2023-08-08T12:48:35Z")
While looking at the news yesterday my wife suddenly came out with “Oh NO!!!” When I asked what was wrong, she said “Campbell’s has bought Rao’s! I hope they don’t ruin it!” I hope they don’t too. My wife swears by Rao’s. We buy it two jars at a time at BJs and Sam’s Club. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212.md?page=2)