Ketchup2 expands to further markets
By Wendy Post

What started out as an idea in one man's back yard several years back has now grown into a popular staple in the kitchen and for outdoor grilling, and is billed the ultimate-universal condiment by its creator. Ketchup2, also known as K2, was an idea borne by Robert (Bert) Christiansen of Rome, Pa.

Recently Christiansen described the creation of his secret sauce, and how its popularity, once introduced to the market, has grown from a few sample bottles distributed to friends, to its current place on shelves where it is being sold at approximately 40 local markets, wineries and eateries.

Sales, according to Christiansen, are strong, and continue to grow.

"We distribute all the way to Watkins Glen in New York, to Taughannok, Sayre, Warren Center, LeRaysville and beyond," said Christiansen about the current market. In fact, Ketchup2 has recently made it to the shelves at Thompson's Groceries in Owego, N.Y., a small market that serves the local community.
In Apalachin, N.Y., the newly opened Kitchen Store is also carrying the product, and noted its immediate popularity.

"The other day," said store owner Sue Michaels, "I had someone come in and they saw the K2, and said 'I love this stuff'." "They immediately bought a bottle," she added.

Michaels, whose store is located in the Sweeney's Plaza, also offers cooking classes and tastings, and has been putting the K2 out for people to sample.
The interesting aspect of K2, as Christiansen describes, is its versatility, and the many uses that it offers.

"It is the ultimate-universal condiment that can be used as a barbeque sauce, hot sauce, steak sauce, wing sauce or stir fry sauce," he added, and claims on his website.

As an inventor, previously creating products like tire tools that are used in his shop, Christiansen Tire, and others throughout the nation, it didn't take long for this local business man to figure out that he was onto something.

It was several years ago when Christiansen became disappointed with the taste of various barbeque sauces, and bored with regular ketchup. He began blending his own sauce, and then gave it a summer of testing various versions of his recipe, and a final perfection of his sauce that he dubbed "Ketchup2", or "K2".

When the testing was all said and done, Christiansen had discovered what he describes as a "cross between catsup and barbeque sauce", with Ketchup2.

He immediately went to work to bottle some of his discovery for distribution to family and friends. "Everybody loved it," he added.

He knew, at that point, that he was onto something. Christiansen immediately registered his product, and began producing it at a larger scale. Through a small producer in Upstate New York, Christiansen began ordering quantities of 500 bottle batches.

Then he went to work on establishing distribution points locally, and expanded over time to include a further radius of markets, that include what he described as "mom and pop" shops and beyond.

To date, Christiansen noted, he has sold over 10,000 bottles of his product in approximately 40 local markets. His hope, he added, is that K2 will take off and be distributed nationwide, or even internationally.

Not only does K2 have a multitude of uses, it is lower in sodium, and low in cholesterol, he noted. When Christiansen blended his sauce, he did so with a perfect balance as well, and considers it to be what he described as "medium".
"I had to balance it to meet the masses," he added. "It has the perfect balance of heat and sweet.... a little spice and a little kick."

To learn more about Ketchup2, you can visit the product website at www.ketchup2.com.