Meet Michael Diamond: Co-Founder of Big Dog Sauce

Behind every great brand is a story of friendship, family, and a shared dream. For Michael Diamond, co-founder of Big Dog Sauce, that story began with a chance work connection that grew into something much bigger.

Michael first met Dan Lloyd through a professional interview and training session. What started as a workplace connection quickly turned into a strong friendship, built on shared values of family, food, and community. Over the years, that bond only deepened — transforming friends into family, and eventually into business partners.

From Friendship to Flavor

In early 2022, when Dan sparked the idea of creating sauces that were both healthy and packed with flavor, Michael knew he wanted to be part of the journey. With a shared vision, they set out to build a sauce company that stood apart: gluten-free, clean-label, and versatile enough for weeknight meals or championship BBQ.

Michael’s role has been focused on brand growth, marketing, and building connections. From establishing an online presence and expanding into wholesale accounts, to shaping the strategy that will carry Big Dog Sauce nationwide, he has been committed to ensuring the brand reaches more tables and more families.

A Family-First Mission

For Michael, Big Dog Sauce is more than just a business. As a husband and father of four, he pours his own family values into the company’s mission: bringing people together through great food.

That sense of family also extends to animals — something that bonded the Diamonds and the Lloyds from the very beginning. Michael and his wife share their home with two dogs and three cats, and they often joke that with “four kids, three cats, two dogs, and a partridge in a pear tree,” their family could be a holiday song. More than just a joke, it reflects how much their families — and their pets — are at the center of everything they do. Sharing stories about family and animals over the BBQ is what brought them together and continues to fuel the spirit of Big Dog Nation.

Building Big Dog Nation

What began as a kitchen experiment has grown into a movement. Today, Big Dog Sauce is a brand with national ambition, built on the belief that food is best when shared with family, friends, and community — whether two-legged or four-legged. And for Michael, the most rewarding part isn’t just the growth — it’s the journey of building something meaningful alongside people who became family.

“Now that we fed you, we’re family.”