NORTH DUNDAS – Ben Macpherson knows his BS, barbecue sauce that is. The South Mountain-based entrepreneur has started Ben’s BS, a small batch BBQ sauce company, with a little help from his friends.
“It’s something I’ve always been playing around with,” Macpherson told The Leader. “Cooking has always been a passion.”
The extra time at home with the pandemic going on gave him an opportunity to refine his recipes and test them out with friends and family.
“The feedback I got from people who had tried the sauce was enough to say ‘I think I may have something here’.”
Macpherson said the name Ben’s BS just came to him.
“I was trying to come up with a name when I was working on all this, it came across my mind.”
Like the sauces, he tested the name out on some of his friends, and ended up with the slogan “Truly some quality BS” out of it.
Taking a risk and starting a business from scratch during a pandemic isn’t for everyone but Macpherson said he had been looking at getting into business for a while.
Starting a low-overhead business like this was the best option for him, and it’s worked. Macpherson said the response has been better than he thought.
“It’s gone way better than I could have expected.”
Macpherson launched the product line in mid-November and has sold over 1,000 bottles in that short amount of time.
So far there are four flavours in the company’s product line: Honey Garlic; Honey Hot; Root Beer; and Maple Chipotle.
Production is done in small batches at the commercial kitchen in Cup of Jo’s in Winchester. Macpherson went to Seaway District High School with the owner of that business and rents the kitchen when Cup of Jo’s is closed on weekends.
“Cup of Jo’s has been a big part of me being able to do any of this,” Macpherson said.
Many of the ingredients and supplies used to create Ben’s BS are sourced as locally as possible such as maple syrup from a local South Dundas producer.
Adding more local connections to his production is something Macpherson said was important.
To expand his product line, he is looking at some limited-run recipes and if they sell well, incorporate them into his main product line.
Macpherson said he is testing a lime jalapeño flavoured sauce and he is looking at developing a smoked bacon and bourbon flavoured sauce after that.
The plan in 2021 is to expand where his products are sold in the region. Until now it has been word-of-mouth, retail sales through Morrisburg Home Hardware, takeout orders at Cup of Jo’s and online at https://bensbs.myportfolio.com.
