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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
If you know Sam Granato, you love him. Sam is the third generation of family ownership in the iconic Granatos wholesale distribution in Salt Lake City. He now has his eye on developing the fourth generation with two of his kids now involved, not to mention a generational customer base to go with it.
Granatos is known for their Italian imports of retail and specialty foods plus an on-site deli and bakery. This is a no frills operation, so you can get a good sandwich for a great price. It was Sam's dad, Frank, who came up with the idea of offering sandwiches because he wanted customers to get to taste the different Italian specialty meats, especially the cheeses, they sell. Frank was also dedicated to the retail side of the business because he didn't want to lose touch with his customers. This was a smart move since it's 25 percent of the overall business.
Artisan cheese is experiencing a renaissance right now, and Granatos is way ahead of the curve. Sam's grandfather, whom he was named after, raised 500 goats after he immigrated to Utah from Italy in the early 1900s. Naturally, he started making cheese which he would then sell door-to-door to Greek and Italian families. It was after Sam's dad, Frank, joined the business in 1948 that Grantos officially launched, with equal support from Sam's mom, Edith. Once she joined the operation, they started an actual brick and mortar business. Eventually they grew and expanded to a 45,000 square foot building and store front, which also housed the wholesale distribution.
Today Granatos has four locations in Salt Lake City, Holladay and South Jordan with 60 employees on board. Sam is proud to be carrying on the Granato family legacy. They're still known for the specialty Italian food they import, with some of their products being sold to restaurants. They also have a six-state radius across the Western United States. Sam loves getting products that no one else carries and offering only the highest quality items.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Granatos With locations in Salt Lake City, Holladay and South Jordan 866-433-0940 www.granatos.com
