Salsa Is No Longer Playing Catch-Up

Ketchup may be the all-American condiment, but salsa is hotter, a research firm said.

Packaged Facts Inc. said Mexican sauces, including picante and salsa, outsold ketchup for the first time last year.

U.S. sales of Mexican sauce totaled $640 million last year, compared to $600 million for ketchup.

The surge in salsa sales reflects a broadening of American tastes as well as the rapid growth of the Latino population, which is projected to become the nation’s largest minority in 25 years.

“We’ve been watching retail results for years and had predicted that Mexican sauces would overtake ketchup sometime this spring,” said David Weiss, president of Packaged Facts.

Mexican sauces took the lead sooner than expected with sales growth of 14% last year, compared to 4% for ketchup.