Shami:

The first thing is to go to several competing grocery super stores and check your competition on the shelf. You'll likely have to look up as most hot sauces are on the top shelf. If you think your product compares well then you can think about moving forward.

The first and most important thing you must have to make a success of introducing a new product to the grocery shelves is a big pot of money. Without a proper war chest, you have little chance of success. Why? Because every thing related to your product, from marketing and manufacturing to brokerage and distribution cost money -- before you get any money from sales -- if you have any.

The second thing is to find other products to accompany the hot sauce. One product companies have a real hard time, even the successful ones. That Tabasco sause you'll see on the shelf used to be just one product and in recent years has expanded in to flavored sauces. Why? To keep their product on the shelf.

Grocery store shelf space is the most expensive real estate in the world!

I know about doing this as at one time I had over thirty food products in national distribution.

Hope this helps.

Kent Capener
Capener Consulting, LLC
http://www.capenerconsulting.com
Kent Capener
Capener Consulting, LLC
http://www.capenerconsulting.com