Mutt’s Sauce and the Mission Beyond the Bottle: Air Force veteran Charlynda Scales' recipe for an enduring legacy.
“My granddad didn’t leave me a recipe. He left me a mission.”
— Charlynda Scales
That mission? To bottle love, legacy, and leadership into every jar of Mutt’s Sauce — a sweet, tangy, and savory condiment crafted from a secret family recipe. But for Air Force veteran Charlynda Scales, the story behind the sauce is more than just flavor; it’s about carrying forward a family tradition rooted in service, resilience, and a sense of purpose.
Scales inherited the handwritten recipe from her grandfather, Charlie “Mutt” Ferrell, Jr., a Korean War veteran. His legacy, passed down through generations, has become the heart of a veteran-owned brand that now graces store shelves, media outlets and family tables nationwide.
Today, The American Legion’s Tango Alpha Lima podcast launches a special four-part series on veteran entrepreneurs, highlighting innovative leaders who are reshaping industries, and creating space for veterans and military families to thrive in business. The four episodes drop Monday through Thursday of this week, along with a resource guide. Find today’s guide here.
Listen to all episodes at legion.org/tangoalphalima or wherever you stream podcasts.
From grandfather’s table to national shelves
Mutt’s Sauce officially launched in 2013, when Scales took a leap of faith and transformed her grandfather’s cherished recipe into a mission-driven product. With no formal background in the food industry, she relied on her military training to adapt, execute, and lead, bringing her vision to life.
What makes Mutt’s Sauce stand out isn’t just its flavor profile; it’s the story in every bottle. The sauce became a bridge between her family’s military past and her entrepreneurial future. Each product reflects the values of service, heritage and connection.
The brand has since expanded into multiple flavors, secured national shelf space, and been featured on prominent platforms, including Entrepreneur, Military Times, Fox Business, and CNBC’s The Job Interview.
“I’m not just selling sauce; I’m preserving my family’s history while feeding yours,” Scales says.
Launching with purpose: The 6888 Kitchen
As she navigated the complex world of food manufacturing, Scales encountered a harsh truth: the industry isn’t designed for underrepresented founders, especially women veterans of color. Instead of accepting those barriers, she helped tear them down.
In Dayton, Ohio, she co-founded the 6888 Kitchen Incubator, a commercial facility and training hub named in honor of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female unit to serve overseas during World War II.
The incubator offers:
Commercial kitchen space Licensing and compliance support Business training and mentorship Access to distribution and co-packing partners “We created the 6888 Kitchen so other people’s legacies could find their place at the table, too,” she says.
It’s more than infrastructure; it’s impact. Dozens of military-connected and minority food entrepreneurs now use the space to build scalable brands that tell their own stories through food.
Mentorship: A key ingredient to success
Scales’ journey is a testament to the power of mentorship. Her business grew through the guidance of subject matter experts in product development, shelf stability, labeling, and logistics areas that often stall new food ventures.
She encourages fellow veteran entrepreneurs to seek out targeted resources such as:
Veterans Business Outreach Centers
Bunker Labs Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Food Finance Institute
Kitchen incubators and co-manufacturers like the 6888 Kitchen
“If you’re building a product, ask someone who’s done it,” she says. “The right advice can save you time, money and momentum.”
Advice from the Sauce Boss
Whether you’re crafting a hot sauce, baking cookies, or launching a meal kit, Scales shares these lessons:
Honor your ‘why.’ Products built on a story and soul last longer than those driven by trends.
Start local, think global. Mutt’s Sauce started in Dayton and now ships nationwide.
Mentorship matters. General business advice isn’t enough; connect with others in your niche.
Use shared kitchens. Avoid high startup costs and regulatory headaches by launching from licensed incubators.
Embrace your legacy. Whether inherited or newly written, your story is your superpower.
Service, sauce and sustained impact
At its core, Mutt’s Sauce is more than a condiment; it’s a vessel for legacy. Scales has blended the values of service, culture and entrepreneurship into a brand that nourishes more than appetites. It honors family. It breaks down barriers. And it opens doors for the next generation of military-connected makers.
Her journey proves that the secret ingredient isn’t just in the recipe, it’s in the mission behind it.
Ashley Gorbulja is a National Guard veteran, communications expert, business owner, and member of American Legion Post 139 in Arlington, Va. She is the host of The American Legion’s special podcast series on veteran entrepreneurship.
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