Ippolito's GM Butch Corda Talks New Products and Growing the Business
SALINAS, CA - With 2016 right around the corner, Ippolito is reflecting on a successful year with new products, an evolving business model, and a growing market share ahead. While currently in the last stages of completing a new processing facility in Salinas, California, General Manager, Butch Corda tells me that the team behind Ippolito is looking forward to a fruitful New Year.
“We will be producing a variety of value-added, microwaveable pouch style bags of Brussels sprouts, and plans are in place to begin a line of packaged spinach for retail and foodservice customers,” Butch says, adding that each year the company’s overall volumes have increased across the board on all its commodities.
Ippolito’s Queen Victoria and Coast King brands’ graphics have also been given an updated facelift as well and the company’s major focus in the New Year will be launching the value-added sprout line in addition to its growth in all commodities.
“We are North America’s largest fresh Brussels sprout producer. We alone produce up to 50% of the total industry’s tonnage annually in California and Mexico, and we are increasing our acreage every year,” Butch adds.
Ippolito also features a full line of western vegetables, including asparagus, artichokes and green onions, and specialty items like anise. Butch notes that in addition to quality, the company is known for its responsiveness and customer service.
“The great thing about Ippolito is we offer large volumes, but our culture here is of a small company,” he says. “Customers are able to get answers quickly to their needs and requests without going through a lot of layers. We are happy to work with customers on custom packs or store-branded items.”
The company recently launched a new website as well, which features many Brussels sprouts recipes, and the team is constantly adding more, as they want to be known as the source when it comes to anything regarding Brussels sprouts.
“Whether it is artichokes or asparagus, green onions, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce or romaine hearts, we can work with retailers to put together a program to suit their needs,” Butch tells me.
Congrats to Ippolito on a great 2015 and we look forward to all the new developments that 2016 has in store.
