Work We’re Proud Of – RAGU x Hot Ones Website

When Mizkan America, Inc.’s most iconic pasta sauce brand, RAGU®, partnered with the fiery YouTube game show, Hot Ones™, it was destined to be a collaboration worth talking about. The result? The RAGÚ® x Hot Ones^TM Limited Edition Heat Pack featuring three unique fiery flavors with progressively hotter flavors, available at Amazon and Kroger. 

When it came time to bring this hot collaboration to life online, Mizkan America turned to Yalo to create a digital experience that would capture the excitement.

Cooking Up the Perfect Website

Our team at Yalo was tasked with designing and developing a microsite that did justice to the bold flavors and fun spirit of this collaboration. The end result was raguxhotones.com, a stunning website we really think brings the heat – literally and figuratively.

We knew the site had to do more than just showcase the new spicy pasta sauces; it needed to bring users into the world of RAGU x Hot Ones. From dynamic fire visuals, seamless functionality for exploring the sauces, and intuitive integration of recipes for each sauce, we knew each and every detail needed to be dialed up to deliver an engaging user experience.

The Challenges and Our Solutions

Every project comes with unique challenges, and the RAGU x Hot Ones microsite was no exception. Our first task to accomplish was to encourage purchases off-site, as the gift pack is available only on Amazon and Kroger. To address this, we added Amazon buttons into the site and incorporated MikMak, a third-party tool that shows store availability near the user. These efforts meant users could seamlessly interact with the site to purchase.

Another challenge was effectively showcasing recipes for each sauce flavor. To highlight the versatility of the sauces, we added functionality on the recipes page that allows users to toggle between each sauce’s heat level, revealing two unique recipes per sauce.

Finally, we knew that most users would access the site via a QR code on the packaging, making mobile optimization a no-brainer. We approached this by designing the microsite as a mobile-first experience. Our team made sure that the layout, navigation, and overall functionality were optimized for users on the go, without feeling annoyed that the content wasn’t seamless on a mobile device.

Why We’re Proud

This project embodies everything Yalo stands for: creativity, collaboration, and delivering impact for our clients. It wasn’t just about building a site; it was about crafting an experience that celebrates an exciting partnership and turns visitors into customers.

As a team, we couldn’t be prouder of raguxhotones.com. It’s a perfect example of how we bring brands together to create something truly memorable – and, maybe with a little bit of spice.