Baroni family sells business to sausage manufacturer, Vollwerth’s.

CALUMET -- Now the production manager for the Baroni Company in Calumet, former owner, Nancy Baroni, insists she has no regrets about letting go of a business that's been in the family for over 70 years.

"It's kind of bittersweet, but I still feel it's a good move,” said Baroni.  “Their distribution areas are larger than mine, so they'll be able to get this product into a lot more places."

The Baroni Company, a pasta and sauce manufacturer, has recently been acquired by Hancock-based Vollwerth Company, which specializes in sausages…a decision that’s been almost a year in the making.

"Both food items have similar productions,” said Vollwerth general manager Jim Schaaf.  “Both are governed by the USDA.  As a USDA facility in Hancock, we have the inspection necessary to manufacture the spaghetti sauce and the Italian food that they're doing up here now."

Although the Baroni Company is now under new ownership, Schaaf says customers can still expect the same great product.

"All the recipes that Baroni's has been using over the years will remain the same,” Schaaf claimed.  “We're not going to change anything."

And Baroni believes she’s leaving her business in good hands.  "Vollwerth's and us have been in business for a long, long time.  So that was the right decision.  I don't think I'd sell it to anyone else."

The Baroni Company will add two more employees, but will eventually close down the Calumet plant once Vollwerth’s Hancock location expands their facility.