It’s not just the products, it’s the experience. – Sergio Sgro
For those Veronese, Pellini Caffé is the amalgamation of Italy’s passion for living and its affinity for the finer indulgences in life. The high-end coffee roaster has won numerous tasting and advertising awards and earned coveted quality certifications, making it without question Particolare e Inconfondibile (“Unique and Unmistakable”).
Sergio Sgro and his father, Gesino Sgro, could not agree more. As the U.S. importers of Pellini Caffé products, they revel in the opportunity to introduce a luxury brand to fill an underserved niche in the highly competitive coffee/espresso market where low-cost, low-quality coffees are king.
“If you like your Folgers or your Starbucks, Pellini may not be for you,” says Sergio. “But if you’re looking for a smooth and aromatically perfected espresso, then Pellini is it.”
The Sgro family has made the full line of Pellini Caffé offerings available online at www.pellini-usastore.com. They also offer a variety of other imported Italian foods including Astorino pasta, Muraca Passata di Pomodoro, 100% pure Italian Olive Oil Calabrese, and Moro Pizzoccheri della Valtellina.
A family’s pursuit to bring the real Italian experience to the U.S.
Gesino Sgro
Gesino discovered they were right. His first American job was in the steel industry. He worked tirelessly to go from laborer to foreman to field supervisor, and to improve his English until it was good enough to begin his own business in steel fabrication and installation. But all the while, he felt a constant yearning and calling from his precious homeland. After many trials and tribulations and hard work to hone his sales and business skills, the opportunity finally arrived for Gesino to bring his Italian culture to his adopted home. First and foremost a wine importer who specializes in small, family-owned vineyards throughout Italy, he also knows a thing or two about Italian food – which makes Pellini USA a dream come true.
“It’s the best of both worlds,” says Gesino in his heavy Italian accent. “I not only get to travel throughout Italy many times a year, I also eat the foods I grew up with.”
Gesino’s three sons have inherited his love of Italian culture and heritage. His younger two sons work for him in the wine importing business while his eldest son, Sergio, moved to Kentucky and started a wholesaling business centered on educating a new demographic about his Italian heritage.
“Kentucky is definitely not Italian food and wine country. Beer and bourbon, maybe, but Italian? No way!” shares Sergio. “But I love it because I have the opportunity to share my passion and customs with people who have never heard about or seen real Italian culture before. And Olive Garden is not Italian!”
Although he started by importing the same wines that his father imports, Sergio quickly realized that he could not compete on price or his portfolio alone. So, he employed a more creative entrepreneurial approach by offering boutique wine shop products and services that his large competitors cannot – and by specializing in high-quality imported Pellini and gourmet foods.
The Pellini distinction
Pellini Caffé is a world leader in its industry and a premier source of all natural, kosher, and ISO certified coffee. An environmentally-friendly company, it is known worldwide for its high-quality, gourmet espresso. In addition to earning many certifications, Pellini has the highest D&B rating possible, enabling it to purchase the top-tier coffee beans on the green market today. In addition to the scrutiny of internal and external expert tasting panels, Pellini products undergo strict quality assurance quality testing to validate the perfection of each and every batch. Pellini’s awards, recognitions, and certifications are a testament to the company’s dedication to producing the best of the best.
Sergio Sgro
It’s not just the products, it’s the experience. – Sergio Sgro
According to Sergio, he wants customers to feel like they are sitting at a large Italian table having a family-style meal. “That’s what makes Pellini products unique – they are produced by families who work the fields or work in production because it’s a family affair.”
He also puts great emphasis on letting customers know that he appreciates them; without them, there is no business. So, he relentlessly aims to demonstrate how Italians treat customers – like one big family. Sergio is willing to drop whatever he is doing to make sure his customers have what they need. On numerous occasions, he has left his family dinner table over the weekend to make deliveries to customers 30-40 minutes away who have run out of a product.
“They’re always so surprised when I tell them I’ll be there in less than one hour. The way I see it is if they can’t offer our products to their customers, they will offer my competitors’. It could be one bottle of wine or several cases of Pellini espresso, the quantity doesn’t matter. I want them to enjoy our products.”
With customer satisfaction top of mind, the Sgros have seized the creative power of social media to actively engage with their audience. They recently launched a PelliniUSA YouTube channel that will feature both new and traditional Italian recipes using their products. In each recipe episode, viewers will also learn about a featured wine that will pair well with the meal.
All recipes will be available for download on their website as well. And Pellini USA’s Facebook page brings humor, healthy Italian eating tips, fun facts, and specials to fans on a daily basis.
In Sergio’s words, their message to their followers is, “We welcome you to our Italian experience – where you are family and we eat, we share, and we love together”.
To learn more about Pellini USA and their “Unique and Unmistakable” products, visit their website, become a fan of the Pellini Coffee, Espresso, & Italian Food Facebook page, and subscribe to the Pellini USA YouTube Channel.
[...] Pellini Caffé – Particolare e Inconfondibile [...]