A local sauce maker has seen an increase in sales since a cease and desist order from Francis Ford Coppola forced a name change.

“We’ve had a ton of local and even national support,” said Luke Andriaccio, owner of Coppola’s Pizza and Marco Rosso’s Italian Sauces, formerly known as “Coppola’s Italian Sauces.”

“I’m glad to be under the new name,” he said.

Andriaccio began making and canning his own sauces in 2016 with a recipe that honors his family heritage under the Coppola’s name. Each batch was homemade at his restaurant in Bemus Point.

However, in April 2017, Andriaccio received a “cease and desist” letter from the legal representation of Francis Ford Coppola, famous director of “The Godfather” movie series among others.

Andriaccio said the letter was in regards to trademark infringements as the director also sells his own sauces.

Rather than duke it out with the monolithic director, Andriaccio decided to re-brand his sauces as “Marco Rosso’s Italian Sauces,” and continued to grow his business. He said Marco is his middle name, while “Rosso” means “red” in Italian. His wife, Grace, and his two sons all have red hair, so it is a way to honor them as well.

Over the past few months, Andriaccio said business has been good. Many people have reached out to give encouragement or ask how the sauce business is going, he said.

“It’s nice to know people have your back as a small business,” Andriaccio said. “It’s been a really good change.”

Marco Rosso Italian Sauces branched out in sales to a variety of markets, including grocery stores and local markets. The sauces are available at regional Wegmans in Lakewood and Erie, Pa.

Currently, Andriaccio said he is looking at changing manufacturers as a way of offering a bigger discount to customers. He said moving manufacturers would allow the production to be a little closer to home in Buffalo. Andriaccio is looking to market one gallon jugs of pasta sauce and five gallon jugs of pizza sauce for use at other restaurants and pizzerias.

“It’d be a different price, and they’d be able to use (the sauce) in their restaurant,” he said.

While the manufacturing component has changed, Andriaccio said he still distributes his own sauce. It allows him to be involved with the inventory personally and meet the customers.

Andriaccio said he is looking forward to participating in regional demonstrations which will pair his sauce with the store’s products. In the near future, he plans to take part in a holiday event at the Lakewood Wegmans. He said if there are other stores or locations customers would like to purchase Marco Rosso sauce, the best bet is to ask management to carry it.

“If they aren’t hearing you, ask a little louder,” Andriaccio said. “We’re really trying to grow this thing.”

For more information on the sauce, visit www.chqsauce.com or email luke@coppolaspizza.com.