Kenneth & Angela | Johnny Retro
Johnny Retro is a Melbourne-made food brand creating Australian-made BBQ sauces, tomato sauce, salts and rubs from its home in Melbourne’s Inner West.
What began ten years ago with a retro food truck serving ribs, wings and burgers has grown into a HACCP-certified food manufacturing business, built around real ingredients, bold flavour and a loyal community of customers who have been part of the journey from the beginning.
2016 - Doing things the right way!
We began on the Food Truck in Melbourne's Inner West
Johnny Retro's story started on the streets of Melbourne with a vintage food truck and a passion for serving great food. Every burger, sandwich and BBQ meal was made with care, and every sauce was crafted from scratch. What began as a local food truck quickly built a loyal following, laying the foundations for a brand driven by flavour, quality and community. But the sauces would soon take on a life of their own...
Nothing Artificial, Only the Good Stuff
2020 - The Sauce Revolution
After years of customers asking to take our sauces home, we launched our first range of Maple Leaf Meats Signature Sauces. Developed from the same recipes that made the food truck a local favourite, our BBQ sauce and tomato sauce quickly found their way into home kitchens across West Melbourne. What started as a customer request soon became a new chapter in our journey, and it was only the beginning.
Customers kept asking, and we gave more.
2021 — Expanding the Flavour
With demand growing, we looked beyond sauces and introduced our range of premium salts and BBQ rubs. Designed to help home cooks and BBQ enthusiasts create bold flavour from the first sprinkle to the final bite, the range complemented our sauces perfectly. As our product lineup expanded, so did our vision for the future—and we knew we needed a bigger home to keep up.
Building the foundations of our future.
2022 — Building Factory 18
As demand for our sauces, salts and rubs continued to grow, we took a major step forward by building Factory 18 in Melbourne. This purpose-built facility gave us complete control over production, quality and innovation, allowing us to manufacture our products in-house. What started as a food truck had evolved into a true food manufacturing business, setting the stage for even bigger milestones ahead.
Building Trust
2025 - HACCP Certification
Quality and food safety have always been at the heart of everything we do. In 2025, Factory 18 achieved HACCP certification, demonstrating our commitment to producing safe, consistent and high-quality sauces and seasonings. This milestone strengthened our ability to supply retailers, stockists and food service partners while giving customers confidence in every bottle. With the foundations firmly in place, a new identity was on the horizon.
Launching our Brand
2026 — Welcome to Johnny Retro
We've changed our logo.....
A decade after our journey began, Maple Leaf Meats Signature Sauces evolved into Johnny Retro. The new brand honours our retro roots while embracing a bigger vision for the future. From Melbourne made BBQ sauces and tomato sauce to salts, rubs and new products yet to come, Johnny Retro represents everything we've learned along the way. The story isn't ending here, it's just getting started.
Created for Purpose
Each of our Sauces were created to ensure there was never a compromise on taste, quality, or flavour. We could not accept the generic sauces that were available. We needed to ensure only the very best we created and that the sauce would become the Hero.
Our commitments
From the very Beginning we did not want to use sauces that were full of artificial ingredients, preservative, or fillers. We wanted a sauce that would keep our customers coming back each week. We still share our flavour with customers who have visited our food truck since 2016! They have shared hundreds of serves and are our loyal followers!
Who we are
Our Vision
To become the trusted go-to brand for sauces, salts, and rubs known for real flavour, real ingredients, and uncompromising quality in kitchens everywhere.
our Values
We’re not just here to make great products we’re here to do it the right way.
- Customers First, Always: Everything we do starts with the people who use our products.
- Passion with Purpose: We’re driven by a love of great food and a commitment to making every meal better.
- Integrity in Every Step: We do what’s right at every stage from sourcing to production to how we show up for our customers.
- Built on Community: Born in Melbourne’s Inner West, we grow alongside the people who support us.
- Real Quality, No Compromise: We only use real ingredients with no added preservatives, fillers, or thickeners. We take no shortcuts!
Sustainability with Action: We choose glass packaging and local production to make better choices for people and the planet.
Our Mission
To create and deliver exceptional sauces, salts, and rubs using real ingredients, proven recipes, and uncompromising quality standards. Through consistent product innovation, local manufacturing, trusted partnerships, and outstanding customer service, we aim to bring authentic flavour to every kitchen while building a brand people know, trust, and choose time and time again.
Discover Johnny Retro on Made In Australia
Johnny Retro is now part of the growing community of Australian brands on Made In Australia. By discovering and supporting businesses like Johnny Retro, we can help keep more products made locally, support the people behind them and build a stronger future for Australian manufacturing.
Explore Johnny Retro’s range on Made In Australia and support Australian made.