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 In Memory of Frank Gilardi Frank Gilardi Jr

About Us

Freshway Foods has been a fresh-cut processor and trusted supply chain partner for customers east of the Mississippi for three and a half decades, because we have focused on building a reputation for superior customer service and our solutions-oriented sales approach. We are quick to respond to customer needs and our nimbleness allows us to think outside-the-box to find solutions that fit each unique situation.

Freshway semi
cutting board with fresh multi-color peppers
lettuce head

Our Legacy

photo of horse pulling carriage with people and produce
1895

Matthew Gilardi and half-brother August Palmisano made the journey from their family home in Sicily to America in 1895. The brothers entered Ellis Island in early November and eventually made their way to Cincinnati and on to Sidney, Ohio. There, Matthew and August Gilardi established a fruit business in the basement of a building at the corner of Ohio and Court streets in downtown Sidney, Ohio.

old produce truck
Circa 1906

Matthew, along with his wife and children, worked to prosper in Sidney. Anthony “Tony” Gilardi, opened his first produce business with the help of his brothers after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army.

old produce truck
Circa 1940

After losing his first produce business during the Great Depression, Tony and his wife were able to re-establish the A.M. Gilardi and Sons Wholesale Fruits and Vegetables in Sidney. Later, sons Matt and Frank joined the business and it moved to East Court Street in Sidney.

group of men standing in front of grocery store
1960s

In the 1960’s, a new store was built adjacent to the old store, which was converted into a restaurant. Matt ran the restaurant and fruit store, and Frank managed the wholesale end of the business. Matt and Frank would drive to Michigan and Cincinnati to buy fruits and vegetables. After years of operating the produce and restaurant businesses jointly, Matt Gilardi Sr. and Frank Gilardi Sr. separated the businesses in the late 1970’s

Black and white semi truck with Freshway logo on the side
1988

In 1988, Frank Gilardi Jr. and his brother, Phil Gilardi purchased the assets of their father’s wholesale business, and began Freshway Foods with a truck and five orders for vegetables processed for delivery. In the early days of the business, they worked out of a small, 7,000 square foot processing facility. By 1992, the business had expanded to the point where it had outgrown the current processing facility, and a new building was constructed. A second facility was added in 1996.

Team of Freshway employees at ground-breaking
2000

In 2000, Frank and Phil broke ground on the company’s current facility, which today consists of over 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art refrigerated processing and distribution space.

Freshway semi truck
Circa 2005

As the business continued to grow, the Gilardi’s recognized the need for their own transportation and logistics company that could offer reliable, on-time service, and Freshway Logistics was born. Today, their fleet consists of over 50 energy efficient trucks.

Freshway headquarters
Present Day

From humble beginnings, Freshway has grown to become a reputable, innovative supplier of fresh-cut processing, repacking, transportation and logistics to leading foodservice and retail companies in the eastern half of the United States. With over 400 dedicated associates, we are also one of the largest employers in the Sidney/Shelby County, Ohio area.

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Sales team

Sales Team

Two women from Freshway procurement team

Procurement Team