Q&A with Joe Anderson of Sauce & Barrel
We got on the phone with Joe Anderson of Sauce & Barrel to dig a little deeper into his business (literally) to really get to know Sauce & Barrel and a little bit more about him too.
GENERAL
What is the name of your business? Sauce and Barrel
How is the business registered? Company
Who owns the business? Joe Anderson
Is this a family-owned business? No
HISTORY
How long have you been in business? 9 years
Who originally started the business? I started the business
Where did the business originally start? It started right where it is now
What did you do before you got into this business? I actually used to work at Sauce and Barrel in the US
MARKETING
What is your business tag line or slogan? Your own little piece of Italy
What products and services do you provide? Italian cuisine of pizzas, salads, soups, sandwiches, fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks and specialties such as spaghetti, pasta, ravioli, lasagna, minestrone
What’s the main problem you solve for your customers? People can get their favourite and the most popular Italian cuisine prepared with authentic Italian recipes and ingredients, in a completely Italian environment and ambiance, right here in Jamaica
Why should customers choose you over one of your competitors? We don’t have any direct competitors. But, if we did, the answer would be simply because we are the real deal….”Your own little piece of Italy” right here in Jamaica
Where does your business operate from? Our office and restaurant are on Braemar Ave in New Kingston
How many locations do you have for this business? Just one
Do you serve customers outside of Jamaica? Sauce and Barrel is an International franchise, so most things on our menu are available in about 20 other countries worldwide
Can customers order your products or services online? Yes
How many employees do you have (including the owners)? 16
OWNER
What is your family status? Married with 3 kids
Which area do you live in? Stony Hill
Where were you born? St. Andrew
Where did you grow up? Meadowbrook
Which schools did you attend up to High School? Lalyce Gray Basic School, St. Richard’s Primary and Jamaica College
Which College or University did you attend? UTECH
What sports are you a fan of? Football, Track & Field, Cricket
What are your hobbies? Football, Dominoes, Fishing
Are you a Christian? No, not yet. But I try to take my family to church every week (just not as much since Covid)
OPERATIONS
Do you provide special discounts to any special groups? No
Do you personally or via the business support a charity or do any volunteer work? Yes
Are you a member of any special groups, associations or clubs? Kiwanis, Jamaica Restaurants Association
Are you a part of any local business networking groups? No
Do you have any special license, certifications or awards, personal or business? Restaurant of the Year 2018
SUCCESS
How would you describe your businesses success so far? I have been blessed. It was all growth from the start
What would you say is the reason for your success? The Sauce & Barrel franchise provides you with everything – SOPs, business plan, marketing plan, operational manuals, forms, recipes… every single thing.
What motivates and drives you in business? I love food and I love serving people
What is your favourite saying or quote? “Sit amet commodo magna eros quis urna” – Famous Person
Did you have a mentor or coach to help you through? If so, who? My former boss provided a lot of support and actually gave me the idea to start the business when I moved back to Jamaica
Are there any books that had a major impact on how you do business? If so, which? ‘Think and Grow RICH’ by Napoleon Hill, and ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey
What single piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out? Take the time to research and plan what you intend to do, and your success is practically guaranteed
COVID-19
How did Covid-19 affect your business? It was very challenging in the first 6 months with all the shut-ins, but we made it through without having to let anyone go
How did Covid-19 affect your industry? The restaurant industry, as you know, was one of the worst hit by Covid-19. Everybody had to start exploring online orders and delivery, if they weren’t yet doing it
How did Covid-19 affect you personally? I lost a few close family members and like everybody quite a few friends… and lots of customers too. smh
If there was a Reset Button to start all over in business, would you do it again or do something else altogether? I would do the exact same thing. As I said earlier, I love what I do.
If you received an extra J$10 Million in your business today, what would you do with it? I would open another branch in Montego Bay or Ocho Rios
If you had the chance to speak to the entire Jamaican population all at once, what would you say? IUnu too indiscipline an tief! Millions of people want to visit Jamaica, but from the reports they get overseas, they are afraid to come here. Even some people who who were born and grew up here, don’t even want to come back to visit. Unuh fi do betta dan dat! The economy needs the tourists. (Me too!)
Visit the Sauce & Barrel listing for their contact information and to learn more about the business and what they have going on right now.
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