From Mother’s Recipe to Market Favorite: Jimmy Tomato’s Small-Batch Success Story

For Jim Wernsing — better known as Jimmy Tomato — great sauce isn’t just a product. It’s a legacy.

Jimmy Tomato is a small-batch sauce company built on a cherished family recipe dating back to 1954, when Jim’s mother first perfected what would become the heart of the brand: a rich, slow-cooked Classic Italian Tomato and Meat Sauce made with care, patience, and uncompromising ingredients.

What started as homemade sauce shared with friends grew into a business after Jim brought his jars to local farmers markets. Customers quickly noticed the difference — this wasn’t mass-produced. It was personal.

Built the Old-School Way

Jimmy Tomato remains intentionally hands-on and small by design. Every batch is crafted using organic tomatoes, fresh produce, and high-quality meats, with an emphasis on flavor over shortcuts. Jim spent years refining the recipe through test batches and blind tastings before bringing it to market — a process rooted in respect for tradition and craft.

As the business grew, so did the need for trusted partners who understand independent food producers.

A Longtime Partnership with Unity Foods

Jimmy Tomato is a longtime customer of Unity Foods, LLC, a locally owned, independent food distributor serving Washington and Oregon. Unity Foods plays a key behind-the-scenes role in helping small food businesses like Jimmy Tomato succeed by providing access to quality ingredients, dependable service, and a distributor that truly understands regional producers.

“Unity Foods gets what small brands need,” Jim says. “They’re reliable, they care about quality, and they support businesses like mine that are built on relationships and integrity.”

That partnership allows Jimmy Tomato to stay focused on what matters most — cooking great sauce and staying true to the original recipe.

Small Business, Big Heart

Today, Jimmy Tomato sauces are sold directly to customers online and through select markets, continuing to build a loyal following one jar at a time. The brand stands as a reminder that some of the best businesses don’t start with investors or trend forecasts — they start with family, flavor, and community.

For Unity Foods, Jimmy Tomato represents exactly why independent distribution matters: supporting local makers, preserving food traditions, and helping small businesses grow without losing their soul.

Looking Ahead: Scaling with Purpose in Seattle

Looking ahead, Jim remains focused on the next chapter of Jimmy Tomato — securing access to a USDA-approved production facility, ideally in the Seattle area, to scale without sacrificing quality. His vision is to produce batches of up to 10,000 containers at a time while staying true to the sauce’s fresh, homemade character. If brought into retail, Jim’s plan has always been to sell the sauce fresh frozen, preserving flavor and integrity rather than shelf-stability shortcuts. “In more than eight years in the business, I haven’t seen a product quite like that in the market,” Jim says. “I still believe it would work.” The approach reflects his commitment to doing things differently — thoughtfully expanding while protecting what makes Jimmy Tomato special.