DelGrosso Foods, Franco Harris Introduce IMMACULATE MARINARA

TIPTON, PA, October 5, 2022 – DelGrosso Foods Inc., America’s oldest major family-owned producer of pasta sauce, is teaming up with NFL legend Franco Harris to mark the 50th anniversary of the “Immaculate Reception,” voted the No. 1 play in NFL history in multiple polls and surveys. Franco’s Immaculate Marinara is a special-edition label from DelGrosso Foods, prominently displaying the NFL Hall of Famer’s image on the jar and calling out the product’s charitable focus of “50 cents per jar to charity.” Franco’s Immaculate Marinara is expected to be available for a limited time at select retailers in central and western Pennsylvania later this fall.

The Immaculate Reception occurred during the December 23, 1972 Super Bowl playoff game, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, against the Oakland Raiders. It has been widely recognized as the most memorable play in football history. On a fourth down with just 22 seconds to play, the Steelers attempted a final, game-saving pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw, which was deflected, and would have ended Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl hopes. However, from seemingly out of nowhere, rookie running back Franco Harris scooped up the ball just before it could hit the ground and ran for a game-winning touchdown.

Franco Harris, the son of an Italian-born mother and African American father, developed a fan base with the nickname “Franco’s Italian Army.” The young running back developed a relationship with the DelGrosso family in the 1970s, and even starred in a TV commercial, alongside his mother, promoting DelGrosso pasta sauce. The Harris-DelGrosso friendship has remained for nearly five decades, so when Franco approached the DelGrosso family with the idea to raise money for Pittsburgh charities coinciding with the 50th year of the Immaculate Reception, the DelGrosso’s were all in.

Joe DelGrosso, CEO of DelGrosso Foods, says “Franco’s idea was to do something special for the anniversary of the Immaculate Reception that would benefit his community. The Immaculate Marinara is the result of that endeavor, and to celebrate 50 years, we are donating 50 cents of each jar sold to Pittsburgh-based charities that Franco has designated, including the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. We think this will be a collector’s item for many Steelers fans, and we are honored to be part of it.”

Harris appreciates the opportunity to use the occasion to benefit the community, saying “It’s great to take an event that’s significant to the Steelers community and use it to raise money for organizations doing good and important work. With a great sauce, a worthy cause, and an anniversary celebration, we have all the right ingredients.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers recently announced that they will retire Harris’ No. 32 jersey during a halftime ceremony at the December 24th primetime game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. The Steelers will wear a commemorative Immaculate Reception patch on their team jerseys to honor the 50th anniversary of the event.
Although specific retailers have yet to be named, DelGrosso Foods expects that the Immaculate Marinara will most likely be available at grocers located in areas of Pennsylvania with the highest concentration of Steelers fans.

If you would like to purchase these commemorative jars----please visit https://shopsuperbakery.com/

DELGROSSO FOODS AWARDED STATE GRANT FOR EXPANSION – Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant Monies Will Help Expand Operations

Tipton, PA, April 26, 2021  – DelGrosso Foods, Inc., was awarded $1.5 million from the Commonwealth of PA. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) is designed to assist with the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects.

DelGrosso Foods applied for the grant program to aid in the redevelopment of the Kristel Lane Building that the company purchased in March 2019. The addition of that facility provides the company with much-needed space for expanded warehousing and future food manufacturing capabilities. DelGrosso Foods, which is the oldest major family-owned producer of pasta sauce in America, has experienced substantial growth over the past decade and requires more space for its operations.
RACP guidelines specify how grants may be utilized. DelGrosso Foods will use the funding to help reduce the overall costs of repurposing the building for warehousing and food production. 

Joe DelGrosso, CEO and second-generation family member stated, “We’ve made numerous additions to our existing Tipton sauce plant over the decades, adding warehousing space and expanded production capacity where we could. In order to continue to grow, our only option at this point is to add a second facility. It’s the largest step in the history of the family business since my parents packed those first cans of sauce over 70 years ago.”

Michael DelGrosso, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer and third-generation family member, says that expanded sales have fueled company growth. “We have a highly dedicated, world-class workforce right here in Blair County that produces DelGrosso branded products for distribution nationally and internationally, packs private label (store brand) products for half of the top 20 grocers in America and produces sauce or salsa for several national brands. We are excited for this next step.”
DelGrosso’s expansion is among the largest single business expansions ever in Blair County,” said Stephen McKnight, President and CEO of the Altoona Blair County Development Corporation. “Locally born and rooted family businesses are the backbone of our economy. We are grateful for DelGrosso’s continued investment and job creation impact and appreciate the support of our state and local officials in critical projects like this,” McKnight added.

DelGrosso Foods worked with the Governor’s Action Team (GAT), Altoona Blair County Development Corporation (ABCD Corp) as well as PA State Senator Judy Ward and PA House of Representative Jim Gregory for this grant process.
In addition to the $1.5m from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) program, DelGrosso also received funding from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for a $166,800 workforce development grant through the WEDnet program to help the company train workers and was encouraged to apply for the department’s Manufacturing Tax Credit (MTC) program. The company has committed to investing $60 million into the project, retaining 90 current positions, and creating nearly 50 new, full-time jobs over the next three years. Loan assistance for the project is being funded by: First Commonwealth Bank, ABCD Corp and Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission.

About DelGrosso Foods, Inc.: DelGrosso Foods, Inc. is the oldest major family-owned producer of pasta sauce in the U.S., tracing its roots to 1914 and an Italian immigrant’s old-world recipe for pasta sauce. Ferdinand and Mafalda DelGrosso formalized production of the sauce for retail sale beginning in 1947. DelGrosso Foods is still family-owned and operated, and DelGrosso products are still manufactured in central PA, where the story began. Their line of ultra-premium pasta sauces, La Famiglia DelGrosso, can now be found at most major grocers across the United States. The family also owns and operates DelGrosso’s Park and Laguna Splash, as well as Marianna’s Fundraisers. For more information, visit www.delgrossos.com.

Press Contact: Amy Mearkle Phone: 814.684.3538 ext. 390 Email: amearkle@delgrossos.com

DelGrosso foods sponsors pbs documentary “THE italian americans”

Tune in to PBS on February 17th and 24th to watch "The Italian Americans". This four hour TV documentary chronicles four generations of Italian-American lives. LaFamiglia DelGrosso is proud to be a sponsor of this TV series.

Learn More, visit PBS
http://www.pbs.org/the-italian-americans/home/

Southern Hospitality at the Charleston Food & Wine Festival

We’ll be showing a little southern hospitality at the Charleston Food & Wine Festival this weekend when we serve up La Famiglia DelGrosso meatballs to thousands of visitors.  If you have friends in The Palmetto State, have them stop by the Grand Tasting Event to see the DelGrosso family this Friday-Sunday!

More info at http://charlestonwineandfood.com/

join La Famiglia delgrosso in the nation’s capitAl nov 8 - 9th for the 2014 metro cooking dc Show

Join Us this weekend at MetroCooking DC’s Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show from November 8-9, 2014 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The two day culinary and entertaining event brings together more than 18,000 consumers to shop, dine and drink. Hope to see you there!

Learn More, visit Metro Cooking DC
www.metrocookingdc.com