Retail sales gaining at Mandolini
Retail sales gaining at Mandolini
CHICAGO — The sales mix for Mandolini Co. on the Chicago International Market has somewhat shifted toward retail in the last couple of years, according to Greg Mandolini, who owns the firm.
The mix of retail and foodservice was previously about even, but it shifted as consumers moved to “more home entertaining” as opposed to going out to eat. Thus retail customers now buy about 60 percent of Mandolini sales.
“This affects our product mix and changes how you approach things,” Mandolini noted.
Mandolini Co. has always been a fruit house and its owner has chosen to continue to capitalize on its strength.
His fruit is sourced from California, Florida, South America and South Africa. “Everyone has locally grown,” and Michigan growers sell directly to regional customers so Mandolini is not involved in the locally produced product, he said.