Catanzaro Food Products Inc. Grows from a Kitchen Operation to a 25-Year Business
With the help of SBA-backed financing, a Rhode Island food manufacturer grew production, expanded operations, and sustained growth over 25 years.
Catanzaro Food Products Inc, a Rhode Island based manufacturer of pasta sauce, cookies, and traditional Italian biscuits, is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team, Kristen and Steve Catanzaro. The business began as a home-based operation and has now grown into a wholesale food business supplying multiple products.
Start with a mission
Catanzaro Food Products Inc. began in the most hands-on way. The idea took shape during a family gathering, when a friend suggested they start selling Steve's pasta sauce. They began making and jarring sauce by hand at night, using a small kettle and sealing each jar themselves.
"I would go into grocery stores with samples, and people would try it and come back and say, this is really good. We did that for three years just building it one store at a time." - Kristen Catanzaro
As demand grew, they decided to go all in. They sold their car, combined the pasta sauce with family cookie recipes, and continued building the business through direct sales and in-store demos.
Access to capital through SBA
As the business grew, producing everything by hand was no longer sustainable. They returned to Citizens Bank, where Kristen previously worked, and asked them to take a chance on them.
"There are two things you can control, your integrity and your credit. Because I had that, they looked outside the box and believed in me." - Kristen Catanzaro
With support from an SBA-backed loan, they purchased their first filling machine. That investment was a turning point, allowing the business to move from manual production to a more efficient process.
Over time, additional SBA assistance helped them purchase ovens and equipment for cookie production, allowing the business to continue expanding.
Results of SBA support
With new access to capital, Catanzaro Food Products Inc. expanded its operations and improved efficiency. What began with hand-poured batches has evolved into a more efficient production process with new equipment.
Today, it marks 25 years in business and recently completed a major relocation after operating in the same facility for decades.
Navigating costs, regulations, and market challenges
Over the years, they have faced rising costs and regulatory challenges.
Under the previous Administration, the rising costs of everyday goods like eggs and oil significantly impacted their margins. At the same time, they were unable to raise prices for an extended period, requiring them to absorb those increases to maintain customer relationships. They emphasized that the actions taken in early 2025 by the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, addressed this issue and helped bring costs down.
"At one point we were paying over five dollars a pound for eggs, and within a year it dropped to under a dollar. That made a huge difference for us." - Kristen Catanzaro
They also explained that overbearing labeling and packaging requirements increased costs and required reinvestment and adjustments to production. These burdensome regulation changes added another layer of cost and complexity to running the business.
Final thoughts
The focus now is on continuing to grow while building something that lasts. The recent move to a new facility marked a major milestone for the business after more than two decades in the same location. After 25 years, they have built a business that has evolved while staying true to how it started.
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