Big City Recognition Doesn't Mean Big Business - CFS is Homegrown

Everyone over the age of 30 remembers the ever-popular ad campaign for Pace Picante Sauce, (which first debuted back in 1989) when a group of horrified cowboys shouted, “New York City?!?” after reading the manufacturer’s label on a jar of salsa. 

Salsa made in the Big Apple just seemed wrong.   The city is about big business, and Times Square is its billboard. If there is an important message to be shared, you’ll see it there!  Recently, even CFS was making news on the Reuter’s billboard!  “’The Mattress Fundraiser’ Breaks $10 Million for Custom Fundraising Solutions” was the headline, announcing that we’ve given back $10 million dollars to school groups across the country.  Sounds like big business, doesn’t it? Not really.

CFS has over 50 locations nationwide, and the goal is to grow to over 100 locations, each giving back $100,000 annually. This is a big goal, but Custom Fundraising Solutions isn’t necessarily “big business.” Each location is independently owned and operated by small business owners, living in the very communities where they’re helping kids raise money for school organizations. These are the same people who shop at your neighborhood grocery store, sit next to you at the Friday night football games and send their kids to local schools, toting trombones and soccer balls.  However, by being a part of the CFS brand, each location benefits from the company’s buying power and nearly 10 years of product and fundraising expertise.

Another benefit of looking at the locations as a group is that you can gauge the success of the CFS “The Mattress Fundraiser” model.  We are proud to announce the CFS locations have given back over $3 million dollars so far this year!  And of the 50+ locations, 9 of them have exceeded their goal of giving back $100,000 each. Wow!

So what happened to the small, Texas-based Pace Foods Company? The very company that boasted an authentic Tex-Mex sauce recipe sold out to Campbell’s Soup Company in 1995, which is less than a 100 miles outside of “New York City.”  They eventually succumbed to “big business.”  CFS is committed to giving back big dollars, not “big business.” Now that’s “Awesome Sauce!” (This phrase is recognized by anyone UNDER 30…or closer to 13.)