When buying pesto sauce to serve in your restaurant, you know that flavor and freshness matter most. But the quality and taste of each sauce really depend on the manufacturer, so you need to spend a great deal of time sampling the different products on the market. Once you find a pesto sauce that you love, you can begin haggling for a good price.

When you've located a few products that meet your taste standards and fall within your budget, you need to evaluate the answers to a few other key questions before making your decision. These include:

1. Pesto sauce list of ingredients: Can you pronounce everything in the ingredient list, or is it full of additives and fillers?

2. Shelf stable time: how long can the product stay in the refrigerator or shelf before going rancid?

3. Cost and size of each bottle or package: Are you getting your money's worth?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find pesto sauce suppliers locally to get the freshest product possible

The main ingredient in most pesto sauces is oil; the second is basil. To get the best-tasting pesto sauce around, you need to get the freshest basil possible. By choosing a local provider, you ensure that the product spends less time on the road, so the pesto sauce you serve is fresher than its 'shipped-in' counterparts.

I recommend: Stick close to home for the best-tasting pesto. While it isn't always possible, there are quite a few local suppliers that go out of their way to create an exceptional product. Pesto makers such as Anne's Pesto and Sauces 'n Love are based in the United States and provide personalized attention and wholesale products.

Try a sample of the pesto sauce before you buy it

Gathering the basic pesto sauce information is just the first step in the process. You really have to taste each sauce to get a feel for how it will work in your own restaurant. Contact the company and ask for a sample or demo size of the sauces you're interested in.

I recommend: Try it before you buy it. Companies like Whole in the Wall and Roselli Foods can provide you with a small package of their sauces, so you can make sure that the flavor and quality are up to par. They can provide a sample to you for free, but others may charge you shipping or a small fee for the packaging and ingredients.

Ask the pesto sauce provider for a bulk discount

Once you find a pesto sauce that you know your customers love, you'll want to stock your shelves with it to make sure that you always have enough to meet demand. Ask each provider what its bulk rates are; typically, the more you buy, the better the discount.

I recommend: Shop around for the best wholesale price. Salvatore Moretti and Oliviers & Co have their wholesale prices right on their websites, so there's no guessing when it comes to pricing. For other dealers, don't be afraid to haggle if the price isn't in your budget.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are a few pesto sauce directory sites on the Web, but don't rely on them as your only source of information. You should contact each company directly to confirm details and see if you can get better pricing.