Which sauce brand introduced Prego spaghetti sauce in 1981?

Campbell Soup Company introduced Prego spaghetti sauce in 1981.

Prego emerged from Campbell's effort during the 1970s to expand beyond canned soup and develop a successful tomato product. Campbell researchers, including chef Werner Schilling and research leader William M. Hildebolt, developed a process that kept thick sauce from separating or “weeping” in the jar.

That technical improvement helped Prego compete with established brands such as Ragu and Hunt's, whose sauces often relied on starch for thickness. Prego's launch became one of the notable grocery-product successes of the early 1980s, helped by broad distribution and aggressive marketing.

The year 1981 identifies the brand's introduction, not Campbell's founding or the invention of jarred pasta sauce. Another frequently remembered Prego milestone came in 1986, when Campbell worked with researcher Howard Moskowitz to refine the recipe and better match consumer taste preferences.