DelGrosso Foods Sponsors PBS Series, The Italian Americans

DelGrosso Foods, America’s oldest major family-owned producer of pasta sauce announced its sponsorship of the four-hour television documentary series, The Italian Americans.  The film, narrated by award-winning actor Stanley Tucci (Big Night, The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games), chronicles four generations of Italian American lives, from the massive late 19th century wave of immigration to the present day: their departures and reunions, their struggles to stay connected to their homeland while making their way in America, and their entry into labor, entertainment, politics and war. The film airs nationally on PBS February 17th and 24th.  Each episode in the four-part series will open and close with a special message from DelGrosso Foods’ third-generation family member, Michael DelGrosso, vice president of sales & marketing, in which he highlights the family’s 100 years of sauce-making tradition and invites viewers to celebrate the film and Italian American heritage.  “After I heard about the film I immediately called the producers at WETA in Washington, D.C. to learn more, and it soon became clear that we had to be part of the project. I’ve never seen a documentary dealing so thoroughly and intelligently with the real story of Italian Americans—both the good and the bad—and the impact Italian Americans have left on this country.” “The DelGrosso Family is proud to sponsor such a remarkable film that truly captures the Italian American spirit,” says company president, Joe DelGrosso.  “One of the quotes early in the documentary is ‘No other immigrant story has been more mythologized than that of Italian Americans.’  This film carefully documents the ‘real’ story of Italian Americans—one that’s very different than the sensationalized version we see in Hollywood movies.  The stories in this film are much like our own family history—filled with risk, hardship, dedication to family, and working together toward the American dream.” The sponsorship will also allow DelGrosso Foods to raise the brand’s national profile.  “Although our heritage traces to 1914, it’s only been in the past several years that we have expanded distribution of our brand beyond our region,” says Michael DelGrosso.  In 2006 the company launched a new specialty line called La Famiglia DelGrosso, which has rapidly spread to grocers in 42 states. The brand features 10 recipes, each created by a different member of the DelGrosso family. Michael DelGrosso says he is sometimes asked whether the family story and personalities featured on each jar were dreamed up by a marketing agency. “You can’t blame people for wondering—it’s rare to have a business that’s still family-owned after generations.  We still produce our recipes kettle by kettle in our very own facility. The faces you see on each jar are real DelGrosso family members, and we are proud to be Italian Americans.”