Food exclusive adds some secret sauce

Exclusive arrangements with celebrities can be a good thing, as long as the right celebrity is involved. Target appeared to pick a winner last year when it tied up with Food Network celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis to launch an exclusive line. Now, Consumer Reports has confirmed that at least one of the key items in the line tastes really good.

The October issue of the publication features a teaser on the cover about celebrity brands and putting Martha, Emeril and others to the test. Inside, the article sought to question whether “star-studded products are worth their A-list prices?”

De Laurentiis pasta sauce was among the items tested and it was rated excellent with a balanced, fresh taste and a buttery richness. The magazine advised readers to “give first consideration to top-rated Giada De Laurentiis Tomato Basil. Most consumers would not expect that sauce to come from a jar, our testers concluded.”

And at $3 for a 23.5 ounce jar, the sauce was rated a Consumer Reports’ Best Buy whereas Mario Batali’s marinara sauce was also rated as excellent, although it did not receive the Best Buy designation, presumably because a 24-ounce jar cost $8.

According to the magazine, De Laurentiis said she develops her product with others, but “I personally test them several times to make sure they are delicious. I always like to see the final product before it hits the shelves.”