In addition to four specialty food stores and online storefront, Di Bruno Bros.has a 20,000-square-foot warehouse for its 1,300 SKUs, of which 40 products it wholesales to area restaurants and 600 retail stores.
The wholesale division grew organically from the Italian Market location. Around 1993, restaurateurs would come into the Ninth Street store wanting to buy a wholesale cheese course to add to their menus. “It’s a side business that has grown into something that’s significant,” explains Emilio Mignucci, the company’s vice president of culinary pioneering.
Di Bruno Bros. imports many products direct, including olive oil, vinegar, San Marzano tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggianno, an assortment of French cheeses and more. Di Bruno Bros. also wholesales precut cheeses such as Huntsman, Jarslberg and Asiago.
Also at the warehouse, Di Bruno Bros. makes 5,000 pounds of fresh mozzarella a week, including three-pound loaves that are popular with casinos and restaurants.
The Philadelphia specialty retailer also makes a line of Dibruno Bros. refrigerated cheeses spreads that it sells and wholesales. Supermarkets including Ahold, Shoprite and Giant are among Dibruno’s list of wholesale customers; they all carry the Di Bruno Bros. line of refrigerated cheese spreads, pictured right.
“We’re very cautious with those requests. We selectively partner with big box retailers,” Emilio explains, adding that the cheese spreads are in 300 Giant stores. “We’re trying to find a balance.”
The six-item line includes: Pesto, Bacon and Horseradish, Port Wine, Provolone and Chianti, Roasted Garlic and Herb, Gorgonzola, and Abbruzze, the “flagship cheese spread” that’s made with aged cheddar, hot pepper garlic and herbs.
To lower the price point on the cheese spread line, Di Bruno’s is switching to a 10-ounce container from the current 12-ounce and the price will lower to $5.99 from $6.99. The lower price point, Emilio believes, will translate into more sales.
For its four locations, the retailer stocks its private-label line of sauces, vinegars, olive oils and more. These products are the top sellers in their respective categories, Emilio says.
