Hi,

I'm thinking of starting a small business selling homemade sauces, like mint and cashew pesto, curry paste, Indonesian style peanut sauce and a roasted pepper pasta sauce.
They would be made using what is available locally and in season, plus some ingredients that I grow myself (occasionally I have enough basil to produce some basil pesto).

They will just be fresh, delicious, healthy homemade sauces that anyone could buy and create a good meal with at home.

Is there enough of a demand here for that sort of thing?

Very good idea.
With the new Italian restaurant the competition will be arsh. I still have to try their pesto, but I expect it to be good.

Pesto is one of the most expensive sauces you can buy, due to the amount of parmesan and pine nuts in it. (not to mention that that disgusting Olivoilà has to be out of your shopping list!)

Italians know very well the real pesto is totally different from the sour one that comes in jars. If you manage to be up the Genoa standard, people will be very happy to spend that money!

@Caity - great idea. I'm confident that you'd have enough interest as long as the price is right! of course, location would also play a role but as long as you're near an area with more foreigners I think you'll do well. I struggle to get any of that type of fresh stuff up here in the north, especially without taking out a loan first.

There would be interest. You need to think about how you will get it to the customer, as you will not have enough business to open a shop, unless you have other products.
You could take orders online or by phone, and then arrange to meet customers at local cafes etc. Or try to get some local store to stock it, but then you need to think about shelf life.

Cool. Thanks!
@tigertiger I was just thinking of doing it through orders on wechat. Keep the business part very simple, and the food very fresh.
@ricsnap I don't think there is any competition between what I want to offer and the Italian restaurant. They are a restaurant, while I just want to provide more ingredients to home-cookers. Plus, my pesto is not trying to be an Italian replica, it is a version of pesto made with what is available locally. So don't expect the Genoa standard but it is delicious! ;-)

The price will be around 20-30 for a jar big enough to serve around 3-4 people.

Thanks for advice and I'll let you know when it is up and running!

"orders on wechat"

Don't forget to pay your taxes.

Damn, that sounds fantastic...

sounds delicious!

if you decide to do this, please send your wechat info!

MMmmmm pesto..... I would buy some! For sure :) :) :)

i can't remember the last time i've eaten pesto.

if you could provide some recipes for using pesto, i might be interested.

and also, do chinese people like pesto? if so, it might make a nice gift to give to chinese friends.