PASTOSA RAVIOLI CELEBRATES A HALF CENTURY OF QUALITY AND TRADITION

(June 22nd, 2016) … Pastosa Ravioli, a third generation, family-owned and operated Italian specialty food company widely recognized as the source of New York’s finest ravioli, fresh pasta and Italian specialties is celebrating 50 years of quality and tradition.

In 1966, Anthony G. Ajello opened the first Pastosa Ravioli store on Avenue N and East 53rd Street in Brooklyn, New York. Having been a successful salesman for the Polly-O Italian Cheese Company, Ajello had a passion to sell and was committed to providing superior products and customer satisfaction. As a result, his tiny store quickly became a huge success. It was immediately clear that Anthony would need a larger store to accommodate his customers—in 1972, he landed on the corner of New Ultrecht Avenue and 75th Street in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

When Anthony retired, his son, Michael, and his partner, Tony Postiglione, continued to grow the business. In 1992, they underwent a major renovation and created a wholesale department so that restaurants, retail shops and food distributors could purchase Pastosa’s first-class ravioli, pasta and Italian speciatly items. The success of the wholesale business created opportunities for new store expansion. Pastosa Ravioli has grown from a Brooklyn landmark to a household name throughout the New York Metropolitan area.

Over the course of the last 50 years of doing business,Pastosa Ravioli has retained its strong commitment to tradition, consistency and quality started by Anthony Ajello while it has evolved and grown to meet their loyal customers’ needs. Today, in addition to their extensive selection of famous ravioli and pasta, sauces and unique Italian specialties, Pastosa store locations (there are currently ten) now feature a wide variety of prepared foods, all crafted from Pastosa’s very own line of imported tomatoes, olive oils, specially-selected artisanal cheeses, prime meats and fresh produce. The most-recently opened Cranford, New Jersey store showcases a modern store design which will become the model for future stores.

Current owner of the flagship Brooklyn store and grandson of Anthony Ajello, Joseph Ajello, and his siblings, Anthony Ajello and Jackie Fury are ready to meet growing demand with plans for additional New Jersey locations.

“The Pastosa Ravioli name has always meant a lot to us as a family and our reputation took hold within our local New York communities. When we opened up our newest store location in Cranford, New Jersey, however, we had customers knocking on the doors during construction, eager for us to open,” said Ajello. “The receptiveness to our time-honored focus on quality and tradition is extremely gratifying. We are very proud to carry on what our grandfather and father worked so hard to build and it is exciting to think of what the future has in store for Pastosa Ravioli.”

As part of the anniversary celebration, select stores will extend special savings offers and promotions to their customers throughout the balance of the year. Customers should follow their local Pastosa store on Facebook or check the store for promotion details and a schedule of events.

There are currently 10 Pastosa Ravioli stores throughout New York and New Jersey. Each location is individually owned and operated and has been licensed to use the Pastosa Ravioli name by the Ajello family. Pastosa Ravioli also wholesales to the finest gourmet delis, restaurants and retail shops and customers may also purchase ravioli and select Italian specialties online at www.pastosa.com.