Our Story

1914: From Sicily to Ellis Island

In 1914, Anna Cerrone migrated from Caramanico, Chieti, Italy, touching ground in her new nation at Ellis Island and then moving west to Magna, Utah.

1918: Crafting heirloom sausages using a family recipe

In 1918, she met and married a coal miner named Rocco Polidori. When Rocco’s health started to decline due to his occupation in coal mining, the couple moved to Denver, Colorado, in search of cleaner air and economic prosperity. Fulfilling their version of the American dream, Anna and Rocco opened their own small grocery store in 1925. Anna worked at the meat counter as the butcher while Rocco tended the front of the store. During her work, Anna not only sliced and prepared cuts of meat for the customers, but also cooked up heirloom sausage recipes inherited from her Sicilian family. Soon, shoppers were clamoring to know how they could get their hands on the delicious sausage, the smell of which permeated the store.

1945: 3^rd Generation takes over

In 1945, Anna’s sons, Louis and Augie Polidori, took over the grocery store. Over the next 37 years the two brothers would grow the sausage business into a successful industry.

1982: Becoming a USDA facility

After Anna passed in 1982, the grocery store was sold and Louis Polidori moved the meat processing plant to a tiny USDA facility in what we know as the Lower Highlands.

1992: 4^th Generation joins the team

Lou’s grandson and a fourth-generation Polidori, Steven joined the business in 1992 and brought along fresh ideas for automating the processing, which allowed the business to run more efficiently.

2003: Brother/Sister Dream Team

In 2003, with the business growing, Melodie Polidori Harris, Steve’s sister and great-granddaughter of Anna, joined the company. She brought insights into small business and marketing. Together, the brother/sister duo and fourth-generation family continued to grow the business and land several new customers focusing on the long-standing traditions of Anna’s quality and consistency.

2023/Today: Nearing 100 Years of Sausage

Fast-forward to today where the story of Polidori Sausage is nearing almost 100 years of commitment to crafting sausage in Denver. An honor that would make Great-Grandma Anna so incredibly proud! We have been awarded with numerous accolades over the years, and most recently earned the honor of being Manufacturer of the Year in 2023 by Company Week. Our Quality Assurance team is constantly working toward passing third-party audits to further prove our commitment to food safety and ensuring our products and company meet the highest industry standards.

We continue to make all of our products with less fat by using only the finest cuts of pork shoulder and all natural spices with no MSG or preservatives just like Great-Grandma Anna did back in 1925. Currently, we manufacture and distribute more than 80 varieties of sausages to restaurants across the nation. Our product range encompasses raw sausages, pre-cooked options and a fresh line of chicken sausages, all tailored to satisfy our customers’ diverse demands. Polidori Sausage is readily available at various Colorado grocery stores. You can discover our products at your neighborhood King Soopers, Safeway, City Markets, and more. For a comprehensive listing of participating grocery stores, please visit our website’s Retail page. And with ties to hometown sports teams like the Colorado Rockies and Colorado Avalanche, the support of local is stronger than ever.

We appreciate the loyal support of our customers. We are proud to carry on our great-grandmother’s family recipes and take great pride in operating a family-run company. Anna would be proud to see her family traditions live on in Polidori Sausage.