Beekman 1802 Has Recently Helped the Sauce Company Grow Nationally Via Target Stores

 

Schenectady-- Casa Visco, a leading national manufacturer of pizza and pasta sauces, will celebrate a 70 year milestone with a major community event that will honor key partners, including the popular Beekman1802 company, and will give back to the region through donations to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Co-owner Adine Viscusi is extending an invite to the Capital Region community to enjoy a complimentary pasta dinner and celebrate the many achievements and partnerships that have transpired over the last several decades.  The dinner will take place on June 30, 2015 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia. “We are so thankful for the many partnerships and friendships we have made through the years. We would not be where we are today without the support from both businesses and patrons, who passionately enjoy our sauces. This is a way for us to say ‘thank you and we appreciate you’,” said Viscusi. 

 

More recently Casa Visco was approached by Beekman1802 to create a sauce for their line of artisanal products. The sauce has gained national distribution in 1500 Target stores. They are looking forward to exploring their new relationship with Josh and Brent, co-founders of the company. Beekman1802 is comprised of Brent Ridge and Joshua Kilmer-Purcell. They were winners of the Amazing Race in 2012 and now have a TV Show on HGTV. They also currently operate a Mercantile, have a bestselling cookbook and memoir, host a popular website and provide a tourism destination. This has all been inspired by their farm, located in Sharon Springs, NY. 

 

Casa Visco has also gained significant traction with their popular selection of pizza sauces. Focusing in on the pizza sector they became the #1 DSD brand in New England, placed in almost every major grocery chain. The specialized product can now be found in 33 states. “We add new items every few years to remain relevant and watch food trends.  We want to provide the highest quality of sauce from our family to yours. We don’t process our sauce like the major producers do, we take the time to make the sauce the way you would at home. We use natural ingredients, slowly cooked in small batches. We include fresh garlic, onion, and pure olive oil. This is true to the traditions of the past and firmly rooted in the heritage of my grandmother Carmella who passed out tomato sauce from her garden. We honor her roots by looking forward to understand what matters most to us; providing a delicious sauce you can be proud of to serve your family,” said Viscusi. 

Viscusi’s grandparents, Carmella and Joe, started the company as Viscusi Wholesale Grocers on Foster Ave in Schenectady.  They sold grocery staples like flour, tomatoes, and cheeses.

Carmella, like most Italians, picked tomatoes from her garden and gave out her sauce as gifts to friends, neighbors and customers who always asked for more to purchase. So, the couple started bottling it in in their basement.  They proudly coined the sauce “Casa Visco”, an Americanized version of their name. It translates to “from the house of Viscusi”.

 

As wholesale grocers, they sold staples to restaurants, delis, pizzerias and small mom & pop stores which were prevalent during that time period. Utilizing four trucks they covered the Capital Region with routes in Schenectady, Albany, Troy, Amsterdam and Johnstown. The first supermarket chain they sold on the sauce was Price Chopper who gave them a handful of local stores which they serviced themselves.

 

After Carmella and Joe passed away the business was taken over by sons Mickey and Joseph. After deciding to sell the wholesale grocery business to Crisafulli Brothers, they focused solely on the Casa Visco brand. They added automated packing equipment and learned how to build a production line as they went. They also tested all kinds of specialty items including: mustards, BBQ sauces, wing sauces and salsas. They serviced local Price Choppers and Grand Union stores with own trucks and salesmen who were prepared with order books and handwritten invoices.

 

The company has seen significant growth in recent years. As they look toward the future they anticipate the launch of new items three of which will be unveiled to the public at the Anniversary celebration. “It’s all about following your passion and doing what you love. I am so honored to be where we are today. I am thankful to my family for starting the business but also to the many supporters we’ve encountered along the way. Our journey continues and we look forward to meeting many and most importantly, touching families through our craft,” said Viscusi. 

 

To attend the community pasta dinner event or make a donation to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/qbwmfe6