In our box inside the Italian pavilion at Summer Fancy Food, we met Michael Endico, president of Ace Endico, a historic American company specializing in the import and distribution of food products, based in upstate New York. Of Italian descent and with a genuine passion for quality, Endico told us what it means to work every day to bring Italian excellence to American tables.
Ace Endico is a benchmark in food import and distribution in the United States. What is the role of Italian products in your portfolio?
Italian products are the core of our business. We do a lot of direct importing, but we also rely on selected brokers and suppliers. Personally, I think Italian quality is far superior to anything available in the United States. We try to select the best products: prosciutto, parmesan, pasta, olive oil, tomatoes, truffles, chocolate…anything that represents true Italian excellence. We serve some of the best restaurants, country clubs, and clubs in the metropolitan area, and we want our customers to receive only the best.
What are the key features you look for in an Italian product before you decide to import and distribute it?
Quality, without a doubt. There must be authenticity, tradition, but also a strong ability to adapt to the American market. The product must speak for itself: genuine ingredients, craftsmanship, unique flavor. And then there is also an important logistical aspect: you need reliability from the producer, continuity of supply, and care in presentation. Our customers expect the best, and we must guarantee it.
What was your impression visiting the Italian pavilion here at Summer Fancy Food?
It’s beautiful. We have our booth right on the edge of the Italian pavilion, and I can say it was a fantastic fair. I met great suppliers and also great customers. It is an extraordinary showcase for Italy, a great opportunity to promote its products in the United States. There is passion, elegance, and above all a lot of quality.
Were there any moments or meetings that you considered particularly significant or representative of Italian excellence?
I would say yes. There are so many moments of excellence. I have tasted extraordinary prosciutto, excellent olive oil, very high quality tomatoes, incredible pastas…and of course the coffee, the espresso. Espresso is essential, especially in the morning! But in general there is a very high standard, which makes this event really special.
A personal question, but one that everyone would like to ask you: what is your favorite Italian product?
I love pasta.
Just pasta?
Well, of course! Everybody loves pasta. I think pasta makes people happy. It is a food that unites, that brings warmth, that tells a story. It is the perfect symbol of Italian culture: simple, but deeply rich.
You have Italian ancestry. How important is this connection in your business?
Italy is in my heart. I was born in America, but my family is of Italian origin. Italy is in my blood. We are very happy about it.
The article Michael Endico: “Italian products are the heart of our business” comes from TheNewyorker.