Check Out Cole Fungaroli’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Fungaroli

Hi Cole, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story is simple. We’ve been crafting sauces for as long as I can remember, whipping up flavorful concoctions for chicken, pizzas, eggs—you name it. Driven by a desire to never have a dull bite, we started a small sauce company in Pennsylvania around the pandemic. We sold our sauces at local farmers’ markets and stores, but something was missing. That something was a purpose and story.

It felt like we were just another hot sauce company without a real purpose. Then, an opportunity arose to rebrand our business, and we seized it. We love the East Coast and wanted to take everyone on a journey of these coastal gems. We decided to focus on something bigger than just hot sauce: the fight against human trafficking. This mission gave our business the purpose it needed.

Today, East Coast Sauces isn’t just about adding flavor to your meals; it’s about telling a story and making a difference. Each of our sauces is a flavorful journey inspired by the East Coast (in our opinion, the best coast), and a portion of our proceeds goes toward agencies combating human trafficking. We’re here to serve up more than just great taste—we’re here to do some good.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not quite. We’ve dreamed of starting our own business for years and even had a trial run under a different brand, but it never really took off. More recently, we’ve faced challenges like being shadow banned on Facebook and Instagram for speaking out about human trafficking, which has made it harder to reach new customers. Despite this, we’re powering through with the support of our local community and coming out stronger.

We’ve also faced struggles raising funds to produce new batches of our sauces. We’re bootstrapping the business to ensure we maintain control over the trafficking information we share. It’s been a tough journey, but we’re committed to making a difference while serving up the best damn sauces around.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets our business apart is that it’s run by a talented designer, giving East Coast Sauces a unique look and story that stands out from the rest. Here’s why East Coast Sauces is a formidable company:

Unique Ingredients: We are the only hot sauce made with bone broth, which adds depth of flavor and numerous health benefits.

Clean Ingredients: We use clean, everyday ingredients you can find in your kitchen.

Flavorful Stories: Each sauce is inspired by a specific location, incorporating the essence of the spot to tell a unique story. There are Spotify playlists curated to each sauce to hear the region too!

Day Trip Itineraries: For each sauce, we provide downloadable day trip itineraries so you can explore the gems that inspired our flavors.

Community Involvement: We operate as a cooperative (COOP), allowing fans to become part of our company with a small one-time fee that supports the fight against human trafficking. Members enjoy special edition sauces, discounts, shirts, free trips, and a say in our business decisions.

Giving Back: A portion of every sauce sale is donated to organizations fighting human trafficking. We also offer introductory information on our website to help build a community of people looking out for one another.

East Coast Sauces isn’t just about great taste—it’s about making a difference.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
We’re taking a risk by stepping into a challenging space. On one side, survivors of human trafficking want to share their stories firsthand. On the other, big corporations and trafficking rings try to silence anyone who speaks out. We’re not here to overshadow survivors but to amplify their voices. While we know we can’t solve the problem alone, we believe we can help. Even helping one person is a win.

Some might think we’re using this cause to sell our sauces, but walking this fine line doesn’t change our intentions. It’s not about us; it’s about starting tough conversations in our community.

The sauce market is saturated, and everyone has their “thing.” Starting a company in this space is tough without a story, purpose, or great product. Sauce is inclusive—it’s a gluten-free and vegan-friendly condiment. But we’re different. While our sauces are gluten-free, they include bone broth, adding depth and nutrition but limiting our reach to those who avoid meat products. Despite these challenges, we believe in our mission and our unique sauces.

At East Coast Sauces, we’re committed to making a difference with every flavorful bite. It’s going to be a tough road ahead for a good reason!

Pricing:

• Each sauce is $`12
• Lifetime Members (Coastie’s) pay $10

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eastcoastsauces.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastcoast_sauces/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/East-Coast-Sauces-61558529331362/