Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce
2003 Annual Awards Dinner
Business of the Year - Paielli’s Bakery
Paielli’s Bakery, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce Business
of the Year 2003,
is a business synonymous with quality who has served customers at their
store for 80 years. Paielli’s products are used in various delis
and restaurants, in addition to being available on grocery store shelves
throughout our Region. The Business of the Year award is nominated by
our membership and given to an established Chamber Member who has demonstrated
longevity as well as a record of community involvement, and an outstanding
commitment to customers and employees.
Sante Paielli came to America in 1920 and worked at Simmons Mattress
Company when he decided to open his own bakery, United Baking Company
in 1923. As the demand for Paielli’s products increased, Sante
found that the building was too crowded and moved the business to 22nd
Avenue and 55th Street. However, the business kept growing and Sante
had to continue moving until settling in the current facility at 6020
39th Avenue.
During
this time, only Sante, his wife Matilda, daughter Ida, sons Dominick
and Dino, and a couple of other employees worked at the Bakery. Many
credit Matilda’s dedication to her husband and the family business
to it’s survival. “She was right there with my dad”
recalls Dino “helping customers, working in the bakery and making
many of the cookies by hand”. To honor his mother’s strong
attitude, Dino affectionately named the cookie that she was best known
for, the Matilda Cookie, which is one of the bakery’s most popular
items.
Sante also found that there was much competition and wanted to set
his products apart from the others. He decided to change the name of
the bakery to Paielli’s Bakery in the early 1950's. Since then,
the Paielli name has become synonymous with quality due to the family’s
dedication to their product. Ralph Tenuta recalls, “One time I
saw that a loaf of Paielli’s bread was a few cents more than their
competitors. I asked Sante why he didn’t lower his price and he
said ‘because I make a better product’”.
“No matter how much we changed or grew” Dino states, “we
never changed the recipes or the quality–it’s our most concern
even today to make the product look the same and taste the same”.
The volume of products has increased, which has lead to several major
expansions such as an increase in the production space, purchasing modern
equipment, adding new showcases and new loading docks and increasing
office space.
Another
feature of the bakery that has remained unchanged is Paielli’s
dedication to their employees and customers. Many employees have been
with the bakery since high school and are regarded as “extended
family”. Dino credits the dependability of the staff on the bakery’s
success and enjoys working side-by-side with his employees. Employees
describe Dino as “Not your typical boss who tells you how to do
something–he is right next to you, working with you and showing
you.” While he can rely and trust his employees, as well as the
contributions of his sons, Mark and David who also work at the bakery,
Dino is quick to joke, “I still always put my two-cents in!”
Dino also enjoys working with new employees, particularly with students
for which the bakery is their first job. “It is a great pleasure
to train others to have a good work ethic” Dino states “and
to teach them to ask questions and work hard”. He tries to teach
others what his father had taught him: Be cautious, work hard, always
pay your creditors and always maintain the quality of your product.
The year 2003 marks the bakery’s 80th Anniversary of being a
family-owned and operated business in Kenosha and they take pride in
having a business that has held the same passion and goals for three
generations. Dino and his brother Dominick worked side-by-side for many
years after their parents retired in 1961. Dino’s wife Janice
also worked with them until the birth of their first son. In 1993, Dominick
retired and Dino became the sole owner of the bakery, yet he was not
alone. His two sons, Mark and David, have also joined the family business
and daughter-in-law Georgette also works with the bakery. Dino says
that one of the best things about working with family is that “you
can depend on them–they will always be there”. The family
also looks toward the future with a fourth generation having the same
desire. All of Dino’s grandchildren have worked and/or still currently
assist their grandfather in the bakery.
The motto of the bakery is “We like being sweet to you”
which describes Paielli’s undying dedication and commitment to
not only their product, but to their customers who they take great pride
in and treasure. “One of the best feelings in the world is when
your customer accepts your product and ours (customers) keep coming
back” remarks Dino “and that is why I think that our customers
are our greatest accomplishment”. Paielli’s is well-known
for going out of their way to design products specifically for their
customers, such as the Muffo-Lotta and the Mini Head Bread, will ship
products across the country for those who “cannot have their special
events without Paielli’s there”, and will personally visit
customers to assist with their unique needs.
The
Paielli family feels that giving back to the community is very important
because it is the community and surrounding areas that have helped to
make them who they are. The bakery donates to numerous organizations,
clubs, schools, youth programs, churches and soup kitchens. They also
are involved in various community organizations such as the Kenosha
Area Chamber of Commerce, the Retail Bakers of America, the Wisconsin
Bakers Association and the Valley Bakers Co-op.
Dino believes that if his father would be very proud and pleased with
the bakery’s success. He also adds that its important to acknowledge
his mother and her contributions, “I give her the credit for most
of what happened all these years--she was the driving force. When my
father was ill and couldn’t come in, she was here, working and
keeping the place going.”
The Paielli family’s undying dedication to the quality of their
product, customer satisfaction and commitment to the community is what
makes their business a success. As their motto states “We like
being sweet to you”, the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce would
like to say congratulations to Paielli’s Bakery and thank you
for creating such excellent “Sweets” for to Kenosha.
Reprinted with
permission from a Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce special insert in the
September 30, 2003 issue of the Kenosha News.
