Though Puget Sound Foods owner John Lettengarver, son of Olympic figure skater John Lettengarver, tried to follow in his father's footsteps, he felt like he needed to be his own person.

``I was on ice skates before I could walk,'' he said. ``I stopped when I was 10 because everyone thought I was my dad and I didn't have my own identity. I wanted to do my own thing.''

Instead, Lettengarver excelled at other sports, such as football and competitive snow skiing, all the while thinking about working in the retail business.

``I wanted to be in the Olympics of business. . . I wanted to work my way up and excel in that arena,'' he said ``So I hit the ground running and worked my way up.''

After high school, Lettengarver worked at several different jobs before joining Cantebury Cuisine, a company that makes spice blends for Galloping Gourmet TV chef Graham Kerr.

``We traveled all over the country. (Kerr) was a great guy, and he was into making good tasting food that was healthy,'' said Lettengarver. ``What I got from that was that there are more people out there becoming aware of their diet and lifestyles, and that I could represent something that's good for people.''

Meanwhile in 2001, the founder of Captain Toady's sauce -- Island resident David Sheridan -- died.

In 1987, Sheridan was known for two things: his parties and his incredible sauces. Friends would tell him that he should bottle and sell the stuff, it was so tasty.

Sheridan partnered with another Island resident, Valerie Brotman, and together they created and packaged Sheridan's sauce.

But they didn't know what to call it. Because they felt that Sheridan's nickname, ``the toad,'' wasn't an appetizing name for a product, Brotman's husband Michael added the appellation ``captain'' and a product line was born.

After his death, Sheridan's friends and family running the company had a conversation with Lettengarver.

``One of the biggest reasons for the success of the product was the taste,'' Lettengarver said. ``I got involved with the company three months later and end up buying it because it was an all natural, preservative-free product that had distribution coast to coast.''

Lettengarver wants to expand Captain Toady's potential by introducing a new line of gourmet sauces under the new company name, Puget Sound Foods.

``What we are doing is continuing the Captain Toady's brand, but creating new brands to fill other niches in the market,'' said Lettengarver.

Currently, there are six kinds of Captain Toady's sauce, from Tasty Tartar Sauces to Hardy Horseradish and Cosmic (Hot) Cocktail Sauce. The new Gourmet Naturals sauces have five varieties, including Savory Mustard, Stone Ground Mustard, Zesty Horseradish, Classic Cocktail Sauce and Ultimate Tartar Sauce. In development are grilling sauces, marinades and batter mixes, as well as spice blends like seafood seasoning or salmon rubs.

Since Captain Toady's is produced in the Northwest, Lettegarver wants his products to have a signature flavor that people remember.

``Part of why I'm doing this is that I'm a Northwest guy and I love the Northwest,'' he said ``We have good food here, but there's not really a Northwest flavor that people associate with us all around the U.S.; I'd like to create that.''

``I'm committed to the idea that we won't release any new products until they have the `Wow' effect,''' he said.

Captain Toady's and Gourmet Naturals Sauces are available at QFC, Larrys Markets, Metropolitan Markets, Pike Place Market and online at Amazon.com.

John Lettengarver and Puget Sound Foods can be reached at 232-2757 or via their Web site at www.pugetsoundfoods.com.

2003-11-20
by DeAnn Rossetti
Mercer Island Reporter

Copyright © 2003 Horvitz Newspapers, Inc.

Puget Sound Foods cutting the mustard

2004-05-27
by DeAnn Rossetti

Puget Sound Foods (PSF) of Mercer Island has added a new and distinctly Northwest flavor to their line of Puget Sound Gourmet Naturals sauces and condiments.

The new flavor is Walla Walla Onion Mustard, which contains a hint of alder smoke.

``What we're doing with Puget Sound Foods is to create specific Northwest flavors that we can share with people around the world,'' said John Lettengarver, CEO of Puget Sound Foods, which is located on the south end of Mercer Island. ``No one out there has celebrated the great flavors we enjoy here, like alder smoke, so we have put those flavors into our sauces.''

Lettengarver also said that PSF is working in cooperation with local farmers markets to create flavors customized for a particular signature food product, called ``Market Naturals.''

``We're kicking off the program next month at Pike Place Market with a tartar sauce and cocktail sauce that we created with the famous fishmongers at the Pike Place Market,'' said Lettengarver. ``Currently we have 13 kinds of sauces and condiments available, but by the end of the year we expect to have 20.''

Walla Walla Onion Mustard and other Northwest flavor sauces retail for about $3.79 per bottle, and are available at Larry's Market or on their Web site at www.gourmetnaturals.com

Copyright © 2003 Horvitz Newspapers, Inc.

Puget Sound Foods, Inc. introduces Market Naturals™

All Naturals Sauces & Condiments fresh from the Farmers Market to You! Soon consumers can buy fresh farmers market products at their favorite local retailers.

Mercer Island, WA - Puget Sound Foods has launched its newest line of products under the name of Market Naturals™.

Market Naturals™ features fresh market sauces from the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market Fishmongers located at the Pike Place Market in Seattle, WA. Known for their Seafood Expertise, Fish Throwing, Books, TV/Movie Spots, Corporate Training & now Great Tasting Sauces the Fishmongers have created a Fresh NEW Taste Treat for you to enjoy. Consumers from around the world will soon be able to purchase these all natural preservative free of sauces online or from their local retailer.

© Copyright 1997-2004, PR Web™. All Rights Reserved

Posted: April 27, 2004

PUGET SOUND FOODS, INC. LAUNCH'S NEW GOURMET NATURALS FLAVOR




Mercer Island, WA, U.S.A. - Puget Sound Foods, Inc. April 27, 2004 announces today that it has introduced a new Mustard flavor in its popular Gourmet Naturals line - Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Mustard.

"We are really excited about our new Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Mustard. This could become our signature item," says John Lettengarver, President & C.E.O. "This is an excellent new product for the health conscious consumer looking for ways to enhance their fresh foods. Gourmet Naturals - Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Mustard is a versatile, all natural, low fat, low carbohydrate condiment that can be used for dips, spreads, marinades, salad dressings and has full flavor that will meet and will exceed our customer's expectation."
He added. "By combining our new Smokey Alder Wood flavor, Sweet Wall Walla Onions and other Natural Flavors we've created totally unique and delightful flavored Mustard. This new product is now available and just in time for the summer grilling season. It's a must try!"

Headquartered in Mercer Island, Washington, Puget Sound Foods produces its Gourmet Naturals, Market Naturals and Captain Toady's brands and sells it through its distribution network in select markets across North America. A leader in the premium all natural, shelf stable condiments and sauces Puget Sound Foods is known for its innovative labeling, marketing and great tasting Tartar Sauces, Cocktail Sauces, Horseradish Sauces and Mustards.

© Copyright 1997-2004, PR Web™. All Rights Reserved

Press Release for September 16, 2004

PUGET SOUND FOODS, INC. Launch's New Market Naturals Wild Canned Salmon

Puget Sound Foods teams up with the "World Famous" Pike Place Fish Market to introduce a new line of Wild Smoked Canned Salmon products.

Mercer Island, WA (PRWEB) September 16, 2004 -- Puget Sound Foods, Inc., announces today that it has expanded their Market Naturals Brand to include Pike Place Fish Market All Natural Alder Smoked Wild Canned Salmon. The new line of Wild Canned Salmon products will initially include King, Coho, Sockeye and Pink Wild Pacific Salmon from Alaska.

Wild Canned Salmon is a quick and easy way to create colorful seafood salads, soups, sandwiches and entrees. With a little imagination and minimal preparation, Wild Canned Salmon can bring a flavorful, new twist to your menu. And, its year-round availability, convenience and healthy nutritional profile make Wild Canned Salmon an economical way to add salmon to your menu.

Salmon is low in calories and saturated fat, yet high in protein, and a unique type of health-promoting fat, the omega-3 essential fatty acids. As their name implies, essential fatty acids are essential for human health but because they cannot be made by the body, they must be obtained from foods. Fish contain a type of essential fatty acid called the omega-3 fatty acids. Wild-caught cold water fish, like salmon, are higher in omega-3 fatty acids than warm water fish. In addition to their high concentration of omega-3s, salmon are an excellent source of the B vitamins, B12 and niacin, and the trace mineral, selenium.

“We are truly thrilled about our new Alder Smoked Wild Canned Salmon products. We continue to develop products from great Pacific Northwest, this is a natural extension to our Puget Sound Foods family of all-natural product,” says John Lettengarver, President & C.E.O. “This is an ideal product for the health conscious seafood consumer. The convenience and health benefits of the nutritious, already cooked and recipe-versatile the Alder Smoked Wild Canned Salmon varieties makes it a great choice for entertaining, snacks, picnics and meals around the clock.”

He added. “Our Pacific Wild Salmon is Hard Smoked, High in Omega 3 Oils, 100% All-Natural, Kosher, Hand Filleted, Hand Packed and is Naturally Delicious. It’s a must try!”

Headquartered in Mercer Island, Washington, Puget Sound Foods produces its Market Naturals, Gourmet Naturals and Captain Toady’s brands and sells it through its distribution network in select markets across North America. A leader in the premium all natural, shelf stable products Puget Sound Foods is known for its innovative labeling, marketing and great tasting products.

© Copyright 1997-2004, PR Web™. All Rights Reserved

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2005

Puget Sound Foods, Inc. is expending their All-Natural Market Naturals' brand to include new sauces, spice blends, and grilling planks. The Market Naturals' brand features seafood-oriented products developed with Seattle's Pike Place Market fishmongers. Introduced last year, the line focuses on all-natural, preservative-free, shelf-stable, and fresh ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. The new sauces include Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar Sauce, Wasabi Cocktail Sauce, and Horseradish Sauce. The new line of Spice Blends includes Northwest Seafood Seasoning, Clam & Mussel Boil, Salmon Basting Sauce, and Our Own Rub. The new Grilling Planks lineup is available in various sizes and features Red Cedar, Alder, and Maple Wood. For further information: www.pugetsoundfoods.com or www.marketnaturals.com.

The Gourmet Retailer Online features all the latest industry news, access to online market research, editorial archives, comprehensive trade show information, and much more.

Posted by: Bill Landon on Sat, Feb 05, 2005

PUGET SOUND FOODS, INC. announces major expansion of their MARKET NATURALS™ product line

It's a quiet weekend so far, I have some projects to work on...like reviews; however with the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday and my love for snacks and condiments like mustards, tartar sauce and the like I thought I would share this press release from home town company Puget Sound Foods. They make great tasting natural products here in the Great Northwest and send us samples from time to time.

Puget Sound Foods, Inc. February 4, 2005 announces a major expansion of their All-Natural Market Naturals™ brand to include New Sauces, Spice Blends and Grilling Planks.

“Our Market Naturals™ brand features Seafood oriented products developed with the World Famous Fishmongers from Seattle’s Pike Place Market,” says John Lettengarver, President & C.E.O. “We introduced this new line last year and because of its success we are quickly expanding our offering.”

He added. “Puget Sound Foods now offers Wild Smoked Canned Salmon, Sauces, Spice Blends and Grilling Planks. We are becoming a one stop shop for your seafood related products with a great brand franchise!”

Puget Sound Foods products are All-Natural, Preservative Free, Shelf Stable featuring flavors and fresh ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Their versatile sauces and spice blends compliment fresh seafood.

The new sauces include Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar Sauce, Wasabi Cocktail Sauce and Horseradish Sauce. The new line of Spice Blends includes Northwest Seafood Seasoning, Clam & Mussel Boil, Salmon Basting Sauce and Our Own Rub. The new Grilling Planks line up is available in various sizes and feature Red Cedar, Alder and Maple Wood.

(c) 2004 PDAToday.com

For Immediate Release: News from the Specialty Food Trade
Tuesday February 22, 2005

Mercer Island, WA, U.S.A. - Puget Sound Foods, Inc. announces a major expansion of their All-Natural Market Naturals™ brand to include New Sauces, Spice Blends and Grilling Planks.

"Our Market Naturals™ brand features Seafood oriented products developed with the World Famous Fishmongers from Seattle's Pike Place Market," says John Lettengarver, President & C.E.O. "We introduced this new line last year and because of its success we are quickly expanding our offering."

He added. "Puget Sound Foods now offers Wild Smoked Canned Salmon, Sauces, Spice Blends and Grilling Planks. We are becoming a one stop shop for your seafood related products with a great brand franchise!"

Puget Sound Foods products are All-Natural, Preservative Free, Shelf Stable featuring flavors and fresh ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Their versatile sauces and spice blends compliment fresh seafood.

The new sauces include Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar Sauce, Wasabi Cocktail Sauce and Horseradish Sauce. The new line of Spice Blends includes Northwest Seafood Seasoning, Clam & Mussel Boil, Salmon Basting Sauce and Our Own Rub. The new Grilling Planks line up is available in various sizes and feature Red Cedar, Alder and Maple Wood.

Cooking on a wood plank has been a Northwest tradition for centuries. The fragrance of the wood imparts a wonderful flavor as the aroma fills the air. Grilling on wood is a unique, natural and healthy way of cooking. The organic, porous surface absorbs moisture when soaked in water prior to cooking and gives off that moisture with smoky flavor in the barbeque, oven or pit. Foods cooked on planks are juicier and more flavorful and less prone to nutrient loss. These planks are a very special way to cook seafood as well as meat, poultry and vegetables.

Puget Sound Foods products are very versatile, easy to use and really compliment each other. For example, cooking fresh salmon seasoned with Northwest Seafood Seasoning then basted with Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar, grilled on an Alder Wood Grilling Plank gives you a meal that is simple to create and spectacular in taste.

Headquartered in Mercer Island, Washington, Puget Sound Foods produces its Market Naturals, Gourmet Naturals and Captain Toady's brands and sells it through its distribution network in select markets across North America. A leader in the premium all natural, shelf stable products Puget Sound Foods is known for its innovative labeling, marketing and great tasting products.

For further information: www.pugetsoundfoods.com or www.marketnaturals.com

Contact: Puget Sound Foods, Inc.
(206) 622-6650 or psf.info@pugetsoundfoods.com

Pike Place Seafood line expands

After a successful year of partnership with the world famous Pike Place fishmongers creating "Our Market Naturals" sauces for fish, Island resident John Lettengarver decided to expand the line to include new sauces, spice blends and grilling planks.

"We started with five products and now we have 30," said Lettengarver. "What we're trying to do is build a franchise at the seafood counter, so that at the store you can buy some salmon, take grilling planks, mix the salmon seasoning with tartar or horseradish sauce and it adds a great flavor to the salmon during and after cooking."

The new sauces include Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion tartar sauce and horseradish sauce. The new spice blends are Northwest Seafood Seasoning, Clam & Mussel Boil, Salmon Basting Sauce and Pike Place Fish Markets "Our Own Rub." The new Grilling Planks are available in various sizes and include Red Cedar, Alder and Maples Wood. All Puget Sound Food products are all-natural, preservative free and shelf stable.

Lettengarver, who has lived on Mercer Island for 15 years, said that he's going to continue to grow his three-year company with new products in the second half of this year.

For further information, contact Puget Sound Foods at 206-622-6650 or via its web sites at www.pugetsoundfoods.com or www.marketnaturals.com.

2005-02-23
by DeAnn Rossetti
Mercer Island Reporter

NEW “Award Winning” SMARTER TARTAR
Mercer Island, WA, U.S.A. – Puget Sound Foods, Inc. October 14, 2005

Get ready for a Smarter Tartar. Have you ever considered using Tartar Sauce on more than seafood or fries? With Puget Sound Foods new Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar Sauce…you should.

This versatile new taste sensation was recently awarded the 2005 Outstanding Savory Condiment, Sauce or Flavor Enhancer finalist and the favorite Tartar Sauce selected by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.

Not only is this Tartar smarter because it’s made with all-natural, preservative free ingredients. Puget Sound Foods new Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar Sauce enhances Chicken, Turkey, Pork and so much more. In addition, it is excellent for baking, grilling or barbequing when used as a marinade or basting sauce. With over 30 special ingredients, it will add a wonderful flavor. It also helps keep the food moist by sealing in the juices.

“Our goal was to create a new original flavor for fresh seafood and beyond.” says John Lettengarver, President & C.E.O. “Based on the response we’ve received across the country from our customers, consumers and the industry…mission accomplished.”

Alder Smoked Walla Walla Onion Tartar is marketed under the Puget Sound Foods “World Famous” Pike Place Fish Market Naturals brand which also includes a variety of sauces, condiments, spice blends, rubs, wild smoked salmon and grilling planks.

Headquartered in Mercer Island, Washington, Puget Sound Foods is known for its innovative labeling, marketing and great tasting products.

For further information: www.pugetsoundfoods.com or www.marketnaturals.com

Contact: Puget Sound Foods, Inc.
(206) 622-6650 or psf.info@pugetsoundfoods.com