Sauces, sauce bases and dressings: a sector between authenticity and pleasure

Within the sauces, sauce bases and dressings market, consumers seek authentic tastes and quality, not only to recapture the direct experience of products prepared at home, but also out of a desire for natural flavours.

In the year ending 24 August 2025, the sector recorded volume growth, reaching 167 million kilograms sold, an increase of 2,6% compared with the previous year. This result was supported by an increase in promotional intensity (+1,6%) and in the average number of references, which rose from 70,5 to 73,1. The category's value also grew by 2,5%, reaching 1,1 billion euros, despite the stabilisation of the average price (-0,2%), following the increase of 2,6% in the previous year. Packs, on the other hand, recorded a sales increase of 2,6%.

Geographical areas and distribution channels

«Volume growth was distributed across all geographical areas – comments Alessia Follo of NIQ – with Area 4 showing the sharpest increase (+4,1%), driven by a reduction in prices of 0,6%. Area 1, the most significant for the category, recorded growth of 2,3%, supported by the largest increase in the average number of references, which rose from 82,6 to 86». All channels, with the exception of self-service stores, contributed to the growth. «The supermarket channel – Alessia Follo continues in her analysis – the most important for the category in terms of share both by value (41,9%) and by volume (37,4%), recorded the greatest volume increase (+3,6%), driven by the ready-made sauces and sauce bases segment, which grew by 4,8%. The discount channel, the second most important, with a sales location by value of 24,8% and by volume of 33,8%, also recorded volume growth of 2,6%, with the greatest increase in promotional intensity (+2,3%). In terms of volume growth, the hypermarket follows, with +2,5% and a sales location of 23,6% by value and 20,3% by volume».

Among the segments, other sauces see a surge

Category volume growth was supported by all segments, with the exception of dressings for dishes, a marginal segment that recorded a volume decline of 4,1%. The main segment (share 48,4%), ready-made sauces and sauce bases, reached 81 million in volume sales, with growth of 2,7%, supported by an increase in promotional intensity of 1,8 points and in the average number of references of 1,3 points. «Within the segment – Alessia Follo explains – the greatest volume increase was recorded by the other sauces sub-segment, which recorded +17%; growth was also recorded by the main sub-segment by volume share (37,1%), tomato base (+2,5%), and the pesto sub-segment (+1,7%). Vegetable sauces/spreads, (with a volume share of 21%), recorded volume growth of 3,3%, driven by strong growth in soya, amounting to +23,9%. Mayonnaise, on the other hand, recorded volume growth of 3,6%, also thanks to a reduction in the average price by volume of 2,9%».

Read more about DM Magazine November 2025

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.