Heinz and Red Gold dominate ketchup. Smaller manufacturers can still make a splash in the ketchup industry with something new and tasty.
The COVID-19 pandemic and inflation seem to have hurt Sir Kensington's, a lesser brand. The company will stop making its signature ketchup.
"Sir Kensington's Ketchup: A Eulogy," a Medium post by co-founder Scott Norton, addressed the unfortunate decision to discontinue the condiment.
Food is high-volume, low-margin. "Ketchup faced untenable price and cost pressure during the pandemic, international war, and inflation of the past three years,"
"To make change in the food system, products ultimately need to be profitable and resilient enough to be economically sustainable
The piece also mentioned that Unilever bought Sir Kensington's a few years ago, giving the food giant the power "on what products to launch
It's easy to be upset, but we recognized the dangers and must take the good with the bad."
Sir Kensington's ketchup avoided corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. Sir Kensington's unusual condiment was well-received.
Sir Kensington's finished second in our Eat This, Not That! ketchup taste ranking, behind Heinz.
Sir Kensington's mayonnaise now accounts for 75% of the company's business, while ketchup has decreased to 10%, according to the Medium article.