Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce

Sweet Baby Ray's is a prominently recognized American brand of barbecue sauce that originated in Chicago, Illinois. The brand was founded in 1985 by brothers Larry and Dave Raymond, who named the sauce after Dave's childhood basketball nickname. After winning second place at the Mike Royko Ribfest, the largest rib cook-off in the country at the time, the sauce gained massive popularity, leading the brothers to incorporate the business and begin commercial production.

In 2005, the sauce business was acquired by Ken's Foods, Inc., a company well-known for its line of steakhouse salad dressings. Under the ownership of Ken's Foods, the brand has grown into the best-selling barbecue sauce in the United States, expanding its product line to include wing sauces, marinades, and no-sugar-added varieties. While the Raymond family sold the sauce manufacturing business, they retained the rights to the name for their restaurant and catering ventures. The product continues to be primarily manufactured in the United States for global distribution, including European markets where it is a staple of American-style condiments.