Scaramuzza’s Pasta Products are familiar to most people in the Greater Philadelphia area. Walk into your local grocery store, and more likely than not, you will find many of the 13 different frozen pasta products made daily at the Scaramuzza’s plant at 20 Ogden Street in Clifton Heights.

“I have my own trucks, we put our products on the shelf, we rotate the stock, we do it all,” said Bob Scaramuzza, the current owner.

The 57-year-old company was founded by Scaramuzza’s grandmother, Clementine DeLioggo, and his mother, Mary, with recipes Clementine brought with her from the Abruzzo region of Italy.

The pasta maker began business in West Philadelphia and has occupied its current location since 1964. Now, to keep up with the growing demand for its homemade pastas from loyal customers and the increasing number of major food chains deciding to stock Scaramuzza’s products, the company was forced to find new quarters.

Now, with the help of a Small Business Administration loan from Meridian Bank, Scaramuzza’s will soon relocate to a new manufacturing facility just minutes away.

“It’s been a lot of work, but I can’t wait,” Scaramuzza said of the move to 412 South Springfield Road, also in Clifton Heights. “We will be moving all of the machinery over, trying to get the manufacturing set up first.”

Among the many features at the new location will be a state-of-the-art freezer and stove, a media room, offices, loading docks, and an 800-square-foot retail storefront. Scaramuzza is especially excited about his new 25-foot ravioli maker that will keep customers supplied with the company’s most popular product.

“It’s sitting on the floor now,” he said, “and there is a guy coming from Italy in two weeks to teach us how to work it.”

Helping the company finance the long-awaited expansion was an SBA loan from Meridian Bank.

“An SBA loan is a loan made directly by our bank and backed by a government guarantee program,” said Paul Avery, the Vice President of SBA Lending at Meridian Bank who helped Scaramuzza secure the loan. “Essentially, what the program does is provide a government guarantee on a portion of the loan, but with the loan remaining on the bank’s books.”

Because SBA loans are guaranteed, with the government promising to pay back up to 75 percent of the loan in the case of default, preferred lenders like Meridian can offer them to small businesses at low interest rates. These loans can also come with higher loan amounts, lower down payments, and longer repayment terms. The SBA has several loan programs available that are tailored to small businesses, like Scaramuzza’s, that are seeking to purchase fixed assets, such as manufacturing equipment or commercial property.

“Paul Avery was our SBA contact at Meridian Bank, and he walked me through the whole process,” said Scaramuzza. “We’ve been working on this for about a year, and he and his team made it pretty easy for me.”

The expansion will ensure that Scaramuzza’s ravioli, stuffed shells, fettuccini, manicotti, gnocchi, linguine, spaghetti, and gravy will continue to be available throughout the tri-state area, long after Bob retires from the family business.

“I’m doing the move mainly because my kids are involved now,” he said. “I’m 67 years old and on my way out, but I wanted the business to continue. I didn’t just want it to go by the wayside after all these years.”

Currently, Scaramuzza’s products are sold in 80 Acmes, 63 Giants, and 13 Wegmans, along with numerous independent grocers and specialty food stores.

“Once we get in to the new facility and see how much faster we can produce the product, I will have a better idea of how much more business I can go after,” said Scaramuzza.

The extent of the business expansion will also drive the number of employees the company will need at the new location, something Bob is already beginning to address.

Bringing back that retail component of the business they once had will help Scaramuzza and his family better connect with local customers, who will now be able to purchase products fresh from the new state-of-the-art kitchen.

But it’s not only the locals Scaramuzza wants to see at the new location. Growing up in that area, he remembers the departure of many Delaware County residents who eventually settled in Chester County.

“I’d like to tell your readers in Chester County that once we get that retail store open,” he said, “they can come back here to Delaware County, do some shopping, and visit their relatives!”

[uam_ad id=”80503″]

.

[uam_ad id=”80502″]