Polly-O cheeses have been an Italian American staple since 1899, when Giuseppe Pollio found immediate success making and selling his Fresh Mozzarella on Long Island.
From Pollio Latticini, a small Italian Deli Store, the business expanded and the Campbell plant was built in 1938 to allow it to grow. The iconic Polly the Parrot was introduced when the spelling of Pollio changed to the present-day Polly-O brand name in 1948.
With the recent acquisition, BelGioioso has now brought the parrot back, updating most of the packaging to include it. The restyling also created a whimsical, nostalgic nod to Polly-O’s beginnings while celebrating its evolution and popularity.
Polly-O revolutionized the mozzarella category with the introduction of String Cheese, creating a new, healthy snack option.
“If you grew up on the East Coast, Polly-O Ricotta and Mozzarella are certainly part of your childhood’s family lunches at your grandmother’s house” says Gaetano Auricchio, president of BelGioioso Cheese. “We will continue honoring that tradition and plan on growing the Polly-O line, introducing new, innovative and high-quality cheeses into the dairy section”.
Polly-O operations are running separately from BelGioioso, with a dedicated sales team led by Timothy Cronin. Cronin has been the driving force behind Polly-O’s renewed dedication to customers, quality and service, all distinctive strengths of BelGioioso Cheese.
BelGioioso has invested $3 million to upgrade the historic Campbell plant and has also built a new distribution center for Polly-O cheeses in Glenville, New York.
These strategic investments, along with an additional $7 million planned in the next year, will allow Polly-O to provide better service and longer shelf life, thanks to improved operations and production planning. Customers and consumers’ feedback have been positive so far and BelGioioso is committed to reinvigorating the Polly-O brand and supporting the people and communities who have crafted these cheeses for years.
“Investing in the people and community of farmers made the most sense to us,” said Gaetano, “The New York employees have shown us that they are committed to the brand and we could not turn our backs on that.”
About BelGioioso
BelGioioso Cheese is a family-owned and operated company specializing in artisan Italian cheesemaking. Using only natural ingredients and fresh, local Wisconsin milk, Master Cheesemakers hand-craft a full line of exceptional cheeses guided by a commitment to quality and a respect for tradition.
