David Habib learned early that food mattered.
Family dinner was not optional in the Habib household. It was where people gathered, talked and stayed connected.
“Growing up, family dinner was a non-negotiable aspect of our day,” Habib said.
That idea shaped the business he would eventually build.
Founded in 2017, Yo Mama’s Foods started as a pasta sauce company in Clearwater. Today, the brand sells a growing lineup that includes sugar free barbecue sauce, dairy free dressings, spicy ketchup and sugar free ranch dressing.
Yo Mama’s products are now sold in more than 24,000 stores nationwide, employ 24 full-time workers and have reached customers around the world.
The guiding rule has stayed the same from day one.
“If mom doesn’t have an ingredient in her pantry, then we don’t use it,” Habib said.
Where the idea came from
Habib grew up in a home where food was central to daily life. His parents regularly hosted family and friends, using meals to bring people together.
“Food, to me, wasn’t only about eating,” he said. “It became almost a language.”
Habib’s parents were born in Cairo, Egypt and later immigrated separately to pursue medical careers. They married in 1988 and settled in Clearwater, where they raised their family.
“I saw how hard both of my parents worked,” Habib said. “They’re very much the American dream.”
Habib attended local Catholic schools, played sports and developed an interest in travel. He studied abroad in South America, France, China and Uganda. While in Uganda, he launched his first business, working with a local woman to create handmade jewelry from recycled materials.
He briefly considered following his parents into medicine until a medical mission trip changed his mind.
“They made me extract eight teeth,” he said. “That ended any thought I had about medicine.”
Habib earned a business and entrepreneurship degree from the University of Florida, followed by a master’s degree in international business. He worked in corporate consulting at Deloitte in Washington D.C., but the lifestyle did not fit.
“I was eating out all the time and getting heartburn,” he said. “I missed gathering around the table. I missed eating and feeling good afterward.”
Eventually, he came home.
Building the brand at home
Habib returned to Clearwater and began experimenting in his parents’ kitchen. Before launching a product, he focused on branding, working with a University of Florida alum to design the Yo Mama’s logo and packaging.
The business officially launched on Mother’s Day in 2017. From the start, Habib aimed higher than a small local brand.
“Early on, I had the intention that we would build an international food brand,” he said.
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The learning curve was steep.
“I got ripped off by just about everyone in the first couple of years,” Habib said. “I didn’t understand the food business.”
Yo Mama’s first breakthrough came on Amazon in October 2017. As low-carb and keto diets gained popularity, Yo Mama’s sauces stood out because they contained no added sugar.
After investing in Amazon advertising, the brand quickly climbed search rankings.
“Within eight or nine weeks, we had the number one slot,” Habib said. “That gave us the ability to go into retail.”
From Amazon to grocery aisles
Yo Mama’s first grocery chain account was Lucky’s Market. At the time, Habib was the company’s only employee.
The next goal was Whole Foods. After repeated outreach, Habib secured a meeting with a buyer who liked the product but advised him to return the following year.
Habib followed up with a handwritten note and continued pushing for shelf space. The effort worked.
Shortly after, Yo Mama’s received an invoice for a $150,000 slotting fee.
“I wasn’t ready for that,” Habib said.
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He raised the money within two weeks with help from family and friends, many of whom still hold ownership stakes in the company.
“My goal is that one day they’ll get a very nice return,” he said.
Between 2020 and 2023, Yo Mama’s Foods expanded rapidly as more people cooked at home and looked for cleaner ingredient options.
“People were looking for premium sauces with fresher taste,” Habib said.
Retail expansion followed. Walmart came on board in 2021. Sam’s Club and Kroger followed in 2023.
The product lineup grew to include roasted garlic alfredo sauce, spicy alfredo sauce, balsamic honey dressings and no sugar barbecue sauce, often paired with basics like elbow pasta.
Lessons learned the hard way
Fast growth came with setbacks.
“I fail all the time,” Habib said.
One of the most difficult moments came when the company lost nearly its entire warehouse staff at once.
“We lost our entire warehouse all at once,” he said.
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For several weeks, finance and marketing staff filled orders and operated forklifts to keep the business running. The experience reshaped Habib’s approach to hiring.
“One bad apple can ruin the entire patch,” he said. “Hire slowly and fire quickly.”
Today, Habib says the company has a strong team built on those lessons.
Giving back and looking ahead
As Yo Mama’s has grown, Habib has focused on addressing food insecurity, supporting organizations like Pinellas Hope, St Vincent De Paul and 360 Eats.
“We’re really passionate about food scarcity,” he said.
Habib has also invested in real estate, owning several condos and the company’s warehouse, which he calls one of his best decisions.
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Despite his ambition, Habib says he is learning to slow down.
“My mind is always thinking about what’s next,” he said. “I’m still working on being present.”
That mindset was clear during the interview at the Carlouel Beach and Yacht Club, a place Habib once dreamed of joining so he could treat his parents after years of sacrifice.
“It brings me joy to bring people I love here,” he said.
For Habib, the story always comes back to the same place. The family table.
