# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/41 "2023-08-11T14:02:11Z")
How long has Rao’s sauce been around? Because I just discovered it about a year ago, and now it seems like Rao’s is the only sauce anybody ever talks about. I agree though it is good stuff. I’m going to be big mad if they change the recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/42 "2023-08-11T14:15:42Z")
I picked up a jar of tomato sauce the other day to supplement Mrs. J’s special pasta sauce. The Private Selection (Kroger brand) Basilico Tomato and Basil sauce (no artificial ingredients) was $4.99. A comparably-sized jar of Rao’s was going for $7.99. The Basilico and other Private Selection brands are in my estimation at least as good as Rao’s, possibly better. The Private Selection Napoletana Roasted Garlic sauce also is good. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/43 "2023-08-11T21:10:22Z")
I was made aware of it in 2007 in the LA area. I saw it here in Chicago not too much longer after, I think. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/44 "2023-08-11T22:33:34Z")
Just was in the store looking at the Rao’s. 7$, not bad. If I did try it, what flavor should I get? I do like meat in my sauce. ---
**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 11, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/45 "2023-08-11T22:35:24Z")
I was just in Costco today; they have 28 ounce two-packs of Rao’s Marinara Sauce for $12. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/46 "2023-08-11T22:46:01Z")
> [@teelabrown](#): > > As discussed above, try some of their frozen products: meatballs in sauce, meat lasagna, chicken parmigiana, and pizza. The latter is very hard to find, at least around here The soups are delicious as well. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/47 "2023-08-11T22:48:53Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > Just was in the store looking at the Rao’s. 7$, not bad. If I did try it, what flavor should I get? I do like meat in my sauce. The marinara is a great simple sauce, and the most common. However, if you can find it, the Bolognese meat sauce and the Italian sausage sauce are very tasty. The only place I can find them, however, is at Smart and Final. Not sure if you have those where you live. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/48 "2023-08-11T23:01:08Z")
Can’t go wrong with tomato and basil. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2023, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/49 "2023-08-11T23:12:35Z")
You can order all of their sauces on their web page. [raos.com](http://raos.com) ---
**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 11, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/50 "2023-08-11T23:16:21Z")
I actually saw the Bolognese at my Meijers today! ---
**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 11, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/51 "2023-08-11T23:19:09Z")
It’s a wonderful meat sauce with both beef and pork. It’s probably my favorite of all of them, and that’s saying something! ---
**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 11, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/52 "2023-08-11T23:40:58Z")
I will try it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/53 "2023-08-14T19:35:53Z")
I had never heard of Rao before this thread. I just bought a jar of their Bolognaise and it is the best jarred sauce I have ever had. I am now fully on board with hoping the it doesn’t get fucked 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 14, 2023, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/54 "2023-08-14T22:12:07Z")
I am definitely going to try it now. However, I do recommend Mids italian sausage. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2023, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/55 "2023-08-14T22:24:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > You can make a lot of changes without technically changing a recipe. True. When Coke Zero ceased to exist and was replaced by Coke Zero Sugar, it was advertised as having a “new, improved” taste (well, it was different, but worse) but the ingredients list on the label was exactly the same. ---
**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 15, 2023, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/56 "2023-08-15T00:17:19Z")
Saw Rao’s at Winco this weekend. Didn’t pick up any then, likely will this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/57 "2023-08-15T03:37:15Z")
I doubt the recipe will change. They charge a big premium for natural ingredients and have dedicated fans. Why mess that up? I think my homemade sauce is very good. I don’t eat pasta that often and don’t generally use canned or bottled sauce in pasta. I have a Rao’s cookbook I like. Maybe the sauce is worth every penny of seven bucks a bottle, but I like making sauce in quantity, and basically only Canadian Costco has the sauce anyway. Never tried it; didn’t know they made pasta and frozen stuff too. Maybe the Canadian distribution will increase because of this. ---
**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 17, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/58 "2023-08-17T23:41:15Z")
Ok. Just tried it. It actually tastes not bad, like an Italian cook made it at home. However, I still like my Mids. ---
**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 18, 2023, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/59 "2023-08-18T00:03:44Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > I doubt the recipe will change. They charge a big premium for natural ingredients and have dedicated fans. Why mess that up? - Because Campbell’s is a big corporation run by idiots who think of nothing but immediate profit. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2023, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212/60 "2023-08-18T00:46:11Z")
Idiots? Do you think that they made a poor business decision? It’s been a successful corporation for over 150 years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-not-my-spaghetti-sauce-campbell-acquires-the-raos-brand/988212.md?page=4)