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Sun Oil a Valued Component For Columbus Vegetable Oils
Sunday, December 1, 2024
filed under: Utilization/Trade
Photos: Columbus Vegetable Oils
The story of Columbus Vegetable Oils is a testament to spirit and resilience.
The story begins in 1936, when Italian immigrant Michael Gagliardo opened a modest grocery store on Chicago’s West Side. Then came World War II, and with it, a cooking oil shortage that left the community scrambling. But Gagliardo saw an opportunity and quickly secured an oil supplier, establishing the company as a vital resource in the region.
This adaptability and foresight gave birth to what is now Columbus Vegetable Oils, headquartered in Des Plains, Ill. The company also operates a western facility, located at Reno, Nev.
Logan Kuch handles procurement and commodity risk management for the company and shared more about Columbus Vegetable Oils. Jody Kerzman visited with him to garner insights.
Explain the idea behind your product.
Our story is a testament to the spirit of innovation and resilience. From those early days in a basement to becoming industry leaders, we continue to celebrate the legacy of our founder, Michael Gagliardo, in every product we deliver.
Today, the fourth-generation family leads the business as a certified woman-owned company that prides itself on high-quality products, superior service and fast delivery.
In what ways do you use sunflower in your products?
We use many different kinds of sunflower oil in bottled oil and blends for a wide range of custom blends.
Why do you use sunflower?
Sunflower is a great choice for our customers because it is naturally non-GMO, non-allergenic (as an RBD [refined/bleached/ deodorized] and RBWD [refined/bleached/winterized/deodorized] oil) and is attractive on customer labels.
Where do you get the sunflower you use?
We primarily source our conventional and organic sunflower oils in the U.S., but, at times, we import from abroad.
What makes your products stand out?
Products from Columbus Vegetable Oils stand out in many different ways. We are SQF (Safe Quality Food)-certified and have rigorous testing standards to ensure only the highest quality of oils are used.
We streamline communication to focus on our customers, who are able to get answers from the right people the first time. We also have an extremely efficient supply chain that allows us to supply our customers faster than some of our competitors can even answer emails.
However, the main thing that makes our products stand out is the focus that each of our employees puts into making sure our customers turn into partners.
What kinds of challenges have you faced along the way?
Columbus Vegetable Oils started with humble beginnings in a basement of a grocery store in the heart of Chicago. Nearly 90 years later, Columbus is a women-owned, fourth-generation family operated company. Over that time, there isn't much we haven't seen; but we use those lessons every day to grow our business and support our customers.
What market segments do you supply?
We supply food service, food retail, food manufacturing, industrial, cosmetic, private label and many others. Columbus Vegetable Oils is a leading provider of oils, fats, dressings, dips and sauces to food service, ingredient manufacturers, retail and private label markets.
What is your customers’ perception of sunflower?
Our customers have a deep love for sunflower oils and use them in many different applications to create wonderful products. From cooking a favorite recipe to making homemade soap, our sunflower oils have become a go-to product.
Are you doing advertising, PR, social media or grassroots efforts to promote your product? If yes, what?
We attend a variety of industry events throughout the year. We value face-to-face communication with our customers and prospects to discuss their needs and learn how to help them meet their objectives.
You can follow us online in several places: our website is cvoils.com. We are on social media as well. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In and You Tube; just search “Columbus Vegetable Oils.”
What do you envision the future holding for your company?
We are approaching our 90th anniversary – and it’s only the beginning! Our philosophy of being oil experts and loyal partners has served us well, and we will continue down that path. From innovation to relationships, we will focus on providing quality products and growing with our customers.