Publication: St. Louis Small Business Monthly

Like the famous family recipe passed from generation to generation, the blueprint for business success has been passed down to Lorenza Pasetti, owner of Volpi Foods.

Located on the Hill, Volpi Foods has been a traditional St. Louis family business for over 100 years. Pasetti is now the third generation in charge of carrying on the business, which has “one family, one tradition.”

“I think that it is unfortunate that so many family businesses go by the wayside or are purchased by third parties,” says Pasetti. “In Europe, there are companies that have been around for 500 years. Too many times, in America, it does not work out that way.”

The deep family tradition is, by far, not the only “old world” component of Volpi Foods. The company makes traditional Italian dry cured meats like Genova Salami, Prosciutto and Rotola. These products are manufactured the same way as they were when John Volpi came to the United States in 1900. Today, in addition to the retail store, the company’s 97 employees ship meats to local grocers like Schnuck’s, Dierberg’s and Safeway.

“Over the years, our product has become more main stream,” says Pasetti. “We are now working on changing our packaging and look to make the meats more convenient and attractive for retail customers.” Pasetti’s determination for quality and customer service are the deepest traditions that she continues to carry at Volpi Foods. She remains tenacious in her pursuit of success despite the difficulties that being a woman presents in her industry.

“I guess that I love a challenge, ” says Pasetti. “It is odd to be female in the meat industry. As a woman, I have had to work very hard and know twice as much as a man.”