How popular isMelinda’s?
In September 2026, people searched for Melinda’s by name about 12,100 times worldwide, an 18.2% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 1.6% of all global hot sauce brand searches, placing Melinda’s ninth out of 13 brands. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about hot sauce brands, Melinda’s did not appear in any of the answers.
Melinda’s is the ninth most searched of 13 competitors and not listed in any AI answer.
TabascoShare of searches 47.4%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd- CholulaShare of searches 17.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
TapatíoShare of searches 14.2%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
ValentinaShare of searches 5.2%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
Melinda’sShare of searches 1.6%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top hot sauce brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Melinda’s did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Cholula5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Tabasco4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Tapatío4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Huy Fong4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Crystal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
El Yucateco3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Frank's RedHot3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Valentina2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Marie Sharp’s2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Melinda’s0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about hot sauce brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which hot sauce brand should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best hot sauce brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best hot sauce brand for tacos?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hot sauce”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hot sauce brands”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 22, 2026.
Which hot sauce brands compete with Melinda’s?
Share of searches by month for Tabasco, Cholula, Tapatío, Valentina, Crystal, Huy Fong, El Yucateco, Melinda’s. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Tabasco | Cholula | Tapatío | Valentina | Crystal | Huy Fong | El Yucateco | Yellowbird | Melinda’s | TRUFF | Marie Sharp’s | Frank's RedHot | Secret Aardvark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 40.4% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.89% | 0.59% | 0.39% |
| Nov 2025 | 42.5% | 19.1% | 15.5% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 0.93% | 0.62% | 0.41% |
| Dec 2025 | 41.3% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 3% | 2% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 3.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 39.4% | 17.7% | 17.7% | 5.3% | 4.3% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 1.1% | 0.58% | 0.38% |
| Feb 2026 | 41.1% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 2.5% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 40.4% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.89% | 0.59% | 0.39% |
| Apr 2026 | 38.7% | 17.3% | 21.2% | 5.2% | 3.5% | 4.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 0.85% | 0.46% | 0.46% |
| May 2026 | 40.3% | 18.1% | 18.1% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 0.88% | 0.48% | 0.39% |
| Jun 2026 | 42.1% | 18.9% | 15.4% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.92% | 0.5% | 0.34% |
| Jul 2026 | 41.2% | 18.5% | 15.1% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 2.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 2% | 2% | 0.9% | 0.49% | 0.4% |
| Aug 2026 | 39.9% | 17.9% | 17.9% | 6.6% | 4.4% | 2% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2% | 1.6% | 0.87% | 0.48% | 0.71% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.4% | 17.4% | 14.2% | 5.2% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.46% | 0.37% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 47.4% | 368K | +22.3% | +7.5 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 17.4% | 135K | 0% | -0.5 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 14.2% | 110K | -18.5% | -3.7 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 5.2% | 40.5K | -18.2% | -1.3 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 4.3% | 33.1K | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 6, moved from 8th to 6th | 2.9% | 22.2K | +50% | +0.9 pointsmoved from 8th to 6th | |
| 7, moved from 6th to 7th | 2.3% | 18.1K | -18.5% | -0.6 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th | |
| 8, moved from 7th to 8th | 1.9% | 14.8K | -33.3% | -1 pointsmoved from 7th to 8th | |
| 9, held 9th | 1.6% | 12.1K | -18.2% | -0.4 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 1.3% | 9.9K | -18.2% | -0.3 points | |
| 11, held 11th | 0.85% | 6.6K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 12, moved from 13th to 12th | 0.46% | 3.6K | 0% | 0 pointsmoved from 13th to 12th | |
| 13, moved from 12th to 13th | 0.37% | 2.9K | -46.3% | -0.3 pointsmoved from 12th to 13th |
1.
Tabasco47.4%
Held 1st. 368K estimated branded searches, +22.3% vs prior month. Share +7.5 points.
2.Cholula
17.4%
Held 2nd. 135K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
3.
Tapatío14.2%
Held 3rd. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -3.7 points.
5.2%
Held 4th. 40.5K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.3 points.
5.
Crystal4.3%
Held 5th. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
6.
Huy Fong2.9%
Moved from 8th to 6th. 22.2K estimated branded searches, +50% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.
2.3%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.
1.9%
Moved from 7th to 8th. 14.8K estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -1 points.
1.6%
Held 9th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
10.
TRUFF1.3%
Held 10th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
0.85%
Held 11th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.46%
Moved from 13th to 12th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
0.37%
Moved from 12th to 13th. 2.9K estimated branded searches, -46.3% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.
Compare popularity between Melinda’s and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Melinda’s
12 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Melinda’s changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Melinda’s worldwide fell from 14.8K to 12.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Melinda’s’ share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide held steady, from 2% to 1.6%.
How did search popularity change for hot sauce brands worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes

In September 2026, Huy Fong overtook El Yucateco and Yellowbird to rank 6th among hot sauce brands worldwide, with 2.9% of the searches.

In September 2026, Tabasco gained share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide, from 39.9% to 47.4%.

In September 2026, Tapatío lost share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide, from 17.9% to 14.2%.

In September 2026, Valentina lost share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide, from 6.6% to 5.2%.

In September 2026, Yellowbird lost share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide, from 2.9% to 1.9%.

In September 2026, El Yucateco lost share of searches among hot sauce brands worldwide, from 2.9% to 2.3%.
How are Melinda’s’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Melinda’s’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- melinda's hot sauce
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