Columbus Foods’ New Line Brings Full Flavor to All-Natural Deli Meat and Salame

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to consumer desire for minimally processed, pre-sliced meats that taste great, Columbus Foods has launched the Farm to Fork® Naturals™ line. A producer of premium specialty meats since 1917, Columbus is expanding its already wide array of offerings with seven new products, all minimally processed with no added nitrites or nitrates, and made from hogs and turkeys humanely raised on family farms.

“Our research shows the Farm to Fork Naturals line outperforms competition in blind taste tests, so we are confident consumers will love our new products.”

“We saw a great opportunity to bring the superior flavor and product quality Columbus is known for to all-natural pre-sliced deli products. With nearly a century of experience, we know how to make the best tasting deli meats and salumi,” said Tim Fallon, CEO of Columbus Foods. “Our research shows the Farm to Fork Naturals line outperforms competition in blind taste tests, so we are confident consumers will love our new products.”

The Farm to Fork Naturals line kicks off with three deli meat and four salame varieties. All varieties are made from pork or turkeys that have been humanely raised on family farms, with no antibiotics and 100% vegetarian feeds.

Farm to Fork Deli Meat

These deli meats are made from whole turkey breasts, lightly seasoned and slow-roasted to perfection. Flavors include:

Oven Roasted Turkey Breast, slowly roasted to golden perfection
Honey Roasted Turkey Breast, our oven-roasted turkey with a touch of sweet honey
Smoked Turkey Breast, slowly roasted and smoked with natural hickory wood

Farm to Fork Salame

Made with 100 percent pork, the line’s salame offerings include some of Columbus’ most popular recipes:

Uncured Fennel Salame, prepared with fennel seeds, sea salt and fresh garlic
Uncured Genoa Salame, a blend of cracked pepper and fresh garlic
Uncured Italian Dry Salame, a complement of spices and full-bodied wine
Uncured Sopressata Salame, mixed with flavorings of sweet fennel, peppers and red wine

Like all Columbus products, the Farm to Fork Naturals line is rooted in authentic Italian quality and taste. A commitment to three principles of simple Italian cooking – using only the highest quality ingredients, taking extra time to hand-craft and slow-cook, and keeping recipes wholesome with no fillers or additives – ensures that our salumi and deli meats are always a cut above. Our deli meats are packaged using High Pressure Processing (HPP), a superior technology that ensures a fresher, safer product.

Columbus’ Farm to Fork Naturals deli meats are available in 6 oz. peel and reseal packaging with an SRP of $5.99; the salame has an SRP $4.99 for 4 oz. The full line is available now at select natural food stores.

About Columbus Foods

Founded by Italian immigrants in 1917, Columbus Foods is a venerable San Francisco Bay Area institution bringing its passion for food and commitment to authentic Italian culinary traditions to life. Old World family recipes inspire the most extensive hand-crafted collection of Italian-style dry cured salame and a rich assortment of premium deli meats that are marketed under the Columbus brand. Its products are available at specialty food stores and supermarkets nationwide. For more information, visit www.columbussalame.com. Columbus Foods is a portfolio company of Arbor Investments.

About Arbor Investments

Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, Arbor is the private equity leader in food and beverage. Arbor’s investment strategy is focused exclusively on acquiring high quality, niche assets in the food and beverage industry, and driving value through operational improvements, top-line expansion, and the cultivation of talented management teams. Arbor’s team of industry veterans collectively has over 300 years of financial and operational experience. The founding partners have worked together for over 18 years financing, acquiring and operating food and beverage companies and the firm’s seven senior professionals have worked together for over 10 years. The firm has acquired or invested in over 30 food and beverage companies in North America and currently has $700 million under management across three funds. Arbor’s most recent fund was raised in December 2011 and has $400 million of committed capital.