Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Michael DelGrosso, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of DelGrosso Foods, located in Tipton, PA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are the oldest family-owned producer of pasta sauce in America. My grandparents bought an amusement park and started canning sauce on-site in 1947. Over the following decades, we grew regionally, and in 2006 we created a specialty line of sauces called La Famiglia DelGrosso, which is sold at major grocers throughout the U.S. We also provide private label and co-packing services for retailers and other brands—over 300 recipes in all. And yes, we still operate DelGrosso's Amusement Park!
Tell us about yourself
I started working at our businesses at age ten, along with my five siblings, my parents, 17 cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. But my father warned us, "This company might not be here tomorrow," and encouraged us to pursue our own paths. After attending the U.S. Naval Academy and serving on active duty, I started my own business career in the automotive industry, got an MBA, and went into management consulting. After a few years, an unexpected need arose in the family business that fit my background, and at age 35, I came back to Tipton, PA, to lead our sales and marketing efforts. I love my job, and the family has placed a lot of trust in me to do new things. Our companies turned 75 this year which reinforced that I'm not just working a job but continuing a legacy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
As one of several family members working in the business, I've tried to bring an outside perspective in order to create new products and enter new markets. I was lucky enough to lead the creation of La Famiglia DelGrosso specialty sauces and bring them to life--showcasing special recipes from various family members, including my late father, and telling their stories on each jar. The premium products use whole plum tomatoes from Italy and are crafted by arguably the world's best sauce maker, and I'm very proud of the impact that brand has had on our overall business.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Each of us has our own way of thinking about and solving problems. Every member of our large Italian family is passionate about the business, and that also means discussions can quickly turn emotional. We want to keep the essential parts of tradition and further the mission of my grandparents, but also embrace the future with new ideas, methods, and understanding. Balancing the opinions, strengths, and weaknesses of various family members is very challenging for any family business, and ours is no different. We've proven we can make it work, and as we approach the biggest expansion in our company history, it's more essential than ever.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You don't need a completely unique idea or product, or service--it just has to be better, cheaper or sold with more appeal than the competition.
- Rather than focus on a thousand different things, find the things that create the biggest impact and do those a thousand times each.
- Be willing to change, accept market feedback, admit you are wrong, change your approach, and re-calibrate your objective. Sometimes the market or circumstances help you realize your initial idea or objective itself needs to be revised.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.delgrossosauce.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaFamigliaDelGrosso/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delgrossodish/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-delgrosso-45a1a95/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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