Rao's Homemade

The jarred sauce brand is based on recipes from Rao's restaurant, which opened on Pleasant Avenue in East Harlem in 1896 and is famously one of the hardest reservations to get in New York City. The restaurant itself operates essentially as a private club with tables held by longtime regulars, so the jarred product is the only way most people can taste the recipes.

Rao's Marinara lists no added sugar in its ingredients, relying instead on the natural sweetness of tomatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, and basil. This distinguishes it from many mass-market jarred sauces, which frequently include sugar or corn syrup as a primary ingredient.

The jarred sauce brand is owned by Sovos Brands, which was acquired by the Campbell Soup Company in 2024 in a deal valued at approximately $2.7 billion. Campbell cited Rao's as the primary driver of the acquisition, as it had become the top-selling premium pasta sauce brand in the United States.

The flagship Marinara remains the best seller, but the Vodka sauce, Arrabbiata, and Roasted Garlic varieties are also widely popular. The brand has expanded well beyond red sauces to include Alfredo, pesto, and even pizza sauces, though the original marinara remains the product most consumers associate with the name.