Bold Flavor. Real Ingredients. No Shortcuts.
At 78 Brand, we believe condiments should taste like food—not like a list of ingredients.
That's why we set out to create ketchup and mustard made with real, recognizable ingredients and bold, unforgettable flavor.
Our philosophy is simple:
Use better ingredients. Make better food. Never take shortcuts.
From our Chicago roots to tables across the country, 78 Brand is here to make every meal a little more flavorful.
Our Story
78 Brand was born in Chicago in 2014 with a simple question:
What if ketchup could actually taste like tomatoes?
We looked at the grocery aisle and saw a small number of major brands dominating the category. Instead of accepting that as the status quo, we decided to create something different.
We developed our own recipe, partnered with a co-packer, and started getting our bottles into restaurants around Chicago.
Our early days were anything but glamorous. We hustled our products from restaurant to restaurant, even delivering bottles directly from the trunk of a car.
But people tasted the difference.
One restaurant became another.
Then another.
And slowly, 78 Brand began finding its way onto more tables.
Why 78?
The name comes directly from what's inside our original ketchup.
We use enough tomatoes to make 78% of the ketchup by weight, giving it a rich, tomato-forward flavor that stands apart from ordinary ketchup.
We believe the main ingredient should actually taste like the main ingredient.
That's why real tomatoes are at the heart of our story.
Real Ingredients Matter
We believe you shouldn't need to compromise between great flavor and ingredients you feel good about.
Our products are made with carefully selected ingredients and are Non-GMO, with no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial colors. Our original ketchup uses cane sugar rather than HFCS.
We don't add ingredients simply because everyone else does.
If an ingredient doesn't earn its place in the bottle, we don't want it there.
Ketchup With Character
Our original ketchup is rich, bold, and packed with tomato flavor.
But we didn't stop there.
For those who like a little more excitement, our spicy ketchup brings real pepper flavor and heat to the table.
Whether you're dressing up fries, burgers, sandwiches, breakfast, or your favorite grilled foods, we want our ketchup to be something you actually look forward to.
Mustard Done Differently
We also believe mustard deserves better.
Our approach focuses on the true character of mustard seed rather than simply overwhelming it with vinegar.
Our collection includes both mild and spicy mustard varieties, giving you options ranging from classic and balanced to bold and peppery.
The goal is always the same:
Let the ingredients speak for themselves.
Built in Chicago
Chicago is more than where we started.
It's part of who we are.
Chicago is a city known for independent businesses, hardworking people, great food, and a willingness to do things its own way.
Those values helped shape 78 Brand from the beginning.
We started small, stayed independent, and built the brand one restaurant, one customer, and one bottle at a time.
Today, our products are available across the country, but our Chicago roots remain at the center of everything we do.
Independent by Choice
78 Brand has grown without venture capital.
We've chosen to remain fiercely independent so we can make decisions based on our customers, our products, and our long-term vision—not on short-term expectations.
Being independent gives us the freedom to experiment, listen, improve, and keep doing things our way.
We're still small enough to care about every customer.
And that's exactly how we like it.
Made for Real People
Our products aren't designed for a particular type of person.
They're made for people who love good food.
For the home cook putting together a quick lunch.
For the family gathering around the dinner table.
For the chef building a menu.
For the pitmaster perfecting a barbecue.
For the person who carries their favorite ketchup everywhere because they refuse to settle for ordinary.
We make condiments for people who believe small details can make a big difference.
From Restaurants to Your Kitchen
Restaurants played an important role in building 78 Brand.
Our first customers helped us prove that people could taste—and appreciate—the difference.
Today, restaurants, chefs, retailers, distributors, and home cooks continue to be an important part of our community. 78 Brand says its products are used by foodservice partners across more than 25 states.
We're proud to see our bottles on restaurant tables and in home refrigerators alike.
Giving Back
Being part of a community means giving back to it.
From our early days, 78 Brand has supported local communities, food banks, charities, and initiatives designed to help people who need it most.
Our community efforts continue today through programs that provide groceries and hot meals to families in Chicago neighborhoods.
We believe good food should be shared—and that a growing brand has a responsibility to help the community that helped build it.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple:
Make better condiments with real ingredients and bold flavor—without taking shortcuts.
We want to create products that people can recognize, enjoy, and feel good about putting on their table.
We're not trying to be the biggest condiment company.
We're trying to make the bottle people actually want.
What's Next
We're still asking the same question that started everything:
What would ketchup taste like if nobody took shortcuts?
We're continuing to experiment with new flavors, work with chefs and restaurants, develop new products, and find more ways to bring bold, real flavor to more tables.
The journey started in a Chicago kitchen.
The next chapter is being written with every bottle.
Real ingredients. Bold flavor. No shortcuts.
Welcome to 78 Brand. |
