By Serena Ortiz
Toledo Free Press Staff Writer
Louis Cullum and his mother, Deb, of Perrysburg, entered the Toledo Farmers’ Market Chili Cookoff last month with Aunt Deb’s Triple Threat Sauce. When the pair took first place against Tony Packo’s, it was the beginning of a new small business that is looking for success.
“Tony Packo’s is well-known for their sauce and other businesses in the area, too, and we respect them as small businesses,” said Louis, president of the company. Their product, he said, “was voted by Toledo customers and it felt good as a new business.”
Aunt Deb’s Triple Threat Sauce is a family recipe. Deb worked at a restaurant for almost 40 years. She learned how to make the sauce from the owners and added her own variation to the recipe.
At another restaurant that closed about five years ago, the hot dogs didn’t sell well, but with Deb’s sauce, they sold out.
“I left the restaurant, but I made the sauce as a favor,” Deb said.
She was asked to keep making the sauce and said it sold out every time. The Cullums decided to start selling the sauce because customers have given good feedback and kept asking for it.
Aunt Deb’s Triple Threat Sauce is frozen, not canned.
“Sauces taste good at restaurants, but when they’re canned, there are added preservatives and it takes away the flavor,” Louis said.
The product is made by Tank’s Meats of Elmore using Deb’s recipe and she asked them not to can it. The sauce can last up to eight months when it’s frozen.
“If you add kidney beans and tomato sauce, it makes good chili or chili mac,” Louis said.
They keep track of how much is sold and ask that the stores let customers give feedback.
Louis said he hopes that Aunt Deb’s Triple Threat Sauce spreads worldwide, but for now, the plan is to stay in the Toledo area. The Cullums would like to sell their product at a booth in the Toledo Farmers’ Market in spring. In the meantime, they will keep sampling, talking to people and meeting with them. He is grateful for the support they have received from small businesses.
“It means a lot that stores are taking us in,” he said.
“Without my son, who does the selling and the hard labor,” Deb said, “it probably wouldn’t have gone anywhere.”
Aunt Deb’s Triple Threat Sauce is sold at Sautter’s Markets in Waterville and Sylvania, Kazmaier’s Market in Perrysburg, Schorling’s 5-Star Market on Bancroft Street and Erie Food Market on Galena Street. The product is also available at Monnette’s Market on Secor Road, House of Meats in Oregon and Point Place and FoodTown on West Central Avenue.
Mike Eisel, manager at Sautter’s Food Center in Waterville, said they carry Aunt Deb’s Triple Threat Sauce because “It’s a good product and we had a demo first. There was customer support and they liked it. That’s the reason and it’s also a local company.”
“It’s locally made and it’s a good product. I tried and I liked it. It sells well,” said John DeFalco Sr., owner of Monnette’s Market.
