frozen favorite
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Transforming
How Palermo ’ s elevates frozen pizza to new heights of taste and quality
Legends in the frozen pizza and manufacturing industry for nearly six decades , Palermo Villa , Inc . ( Palermo ’ s Pizza ), is committed to delivering excellent quality at a good price . The key to Palermo ’ s continued success is its serious research and development process . Indeed , the family-owned business takes pride in constantly trying new products to reach a wider audience . Behind the brand ’ s innovative strategy is Chief Product and Innovation Officer , Nicholas Fallucca , grandson of company creator Gaspare Fallucca . Nicholas talks us through the brand ’ s rich history .
“ My grandparents came from Italy in the 1950s . In 1964 , they opened a bakery on Milwaukee ' s East Side . After specializing in baked goods , they switched course and ventured into a thriving Italian restaurant in 1969 . Later , in 1979 , they introduced frozen pizzas as an integral part of their establishment ’ s offering . After three years , my grandfather stepped down as the company ' s leader , acknowledging his limited retail expertise and a more old school approach to customers .
“ Subsequently , my father assumed the role of Palermo ' s CEO in 1982 . From 1982 to 1989 , we sold to local grocery stores , bars , and taverns - anywhere we could . Our breakthrough came when we secured a partnership with Safeway , enabling us to produce frozen pizzas for the renowned retail chain . This partnership marked the invention of our first rising crust pizza and ignited our knack for innovation and customer understanding . In 2003 , we introduced Palermo ' s Primo Thin , which was the first ultra-thin frozen pizza to hit the marketplace .
“ Thanks to that new star-product , our Primo Thin Pizza was distributed nationwide through Costco . We subsequently launched the first ever frozen craft pizza in 2014 . This range of pizzas is manufactured using our best crust and the finest combination of toppings . It quickly became our best product , so we decided to give it a bold name . In homage to my grandfather ' s spirited nature , we aptly named it Screamin ’ Sicilian , as he was known for his boisterous conversation ,” he elaborates .
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