Colony Foods Newsletter
December 2024
Latest from our Partners
Classic Combination
Nothing pairs more perfectly with spicy wings than Ken's Buttermilk Ranch. This will be a winner at any restaurant.
Ken's Sauces
Aside from the classic ranch sauce, Ken's has a large variety of other fun and delicious sauce flavors that pair great with wings or anything else you can think of!
Chicken Wings
We partner with many different companies who provide the perfect wings for your restaurant.
Colony Foods Team Spotlight
This month we hear from one of our valued team members. Colony Foods' Business Development Consultant, Chris Vasilopoulos, discusses his role and the company.
1. Can you tell me more about yourself and the role you serve at Colony Foods?
I'm Chris Vasilopoulos and I'm a former restaurant owner. I've been an owner operator of multiple pizzerias with over 35 years of relative experience. I currently work with Colony Foods as a business development consultant.
2. What sets Colony Foods apart from other food distributors in the region?
Colony foods is an industry leader in food provisions. What sets them apart from other providers is the ability to provide a customer service that is unparalleled. I like to say we are big enough but small enough. A family owned and operated business that puts the needs of its customers first.
3. What types of food products do you distribute? Do you specialize in any particular categories?
We distribute Cheese products , flour, fresh meats ,oils and a wide variety of paper products. We specialize in the pizza cheese partnering with amazing companies such as Grande Cheese, Foremost farms and General Mills.
4. Who are the customers you primarily serve?
We primarily service independent pizzerias but also larger full service fast casual restaurants.
5. How do you build and maintain strong relationships with your customers?
Our industry is very much a relationship business. I strive to become a resource to my clients and offer experience based advice to them. I gain and maintain there trust by providing top notch service.
News You May Have Missed
Latest updates on Dockworker's Union Strike
See the latest news on the strike and where our industry stands with it all. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/dockworkers-union-suspends-strike-until-jan-15-to-allow-time-for-new-contract-negotiations
What happened to all the pork in Massachusettes?
On May 29 the MA Department of Agricultural Resources issued a new FAQ on 330 CMR 35.00, the regulation implementing farm animal housing standards for pigs, calves and hens that produce pork, veal and egg products for sale in MA, and the process by which farms, processors, distributors, retail outlets, and restaurants can be compliant with these standards.
Under the question posed, "What products are considered whole pork meat, the new FAQ states that, "Whole pork meat does not include ground or comminuted pork, even if no additional ingredients are added." It also changes the reason sausage is exempt from whole pork meat products stating it is because it is a ground product as opposed to being a processed or prepared food product like a hot dog. Another question asks if comminuted pork is considered whole pork meat, whereas the answer has been changed to "No." It also asks the following new question: My company takes possession of non-compliant whole pork meat in another state, it is brought to my business in Massachusetts where it is ground and turned into ground pork, sausage, and other processed products to be sold in Massachusetts.
Is this a violation of 330 CMR 35.00? No, if your company takes possession of non-compliant product outside of Massachusetts and then processes it into items that are no longer covered by the regulations, like ground pork, sausage, and other processed products, they can be sold in Massachusetts and there would be no violation of the regulation.
