Cirelli Foods, Inc. Fully Recovers

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Steve Dubin, (781) 878-9533, sdubin@prworkzone.com
(cirfireupdate91100)

Cirelli Foods, Inc. Fully Recovers
From Fire Disruption & Thanks Customers for Loyalty

DATELINE: BROCKTON, MA, ISSUED SEPTEMBER 11, 2000...
Just three weeks after a small fire in the freezer door to the Brockton-based Cirelli Foods, Inc. warehouse caused temporary inconvenience to both Cirelli Foods and their more than 2,500 food service customers located throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, the company is now fully operational (as of September 5, 2000).

The smoke from the smoldering fire, which took place on Sunday, August 20, caused the loss of approximately $2.9 million of inventory. Undaunted, the challenge rallied the troops at Cirelli's to lease more than 8,400 square feet of temporary freezer and cooler space on Manley Street in Brockton, just down the street from their 970 West Chestnut Street warehouse and retail location. This allowed Cirelli's to restock as renovations were made to their damaged freezer door and while their condemned inventory was being destroyed. Now that their plant is completely cleaned and repaired, the company has located all foods to their main campus.

The retail portion of Cirelli Foods, known as Cirelli's Warehouse Marketplace, was not impacted by the smoke damage and continued to be fully operational.

During the temporary shutdown, Cirelli salespeople arranged for restaurant and foodservice customers to receive urgent products from friendly competition and other sources. To expedite some shipments, sales personnel hand delivered some items directly. Customers responded with kudos.

"As you know, North Key West Saloon just celebrated its second anniversary and Cirelli Foods has been an important partner in our success, and we are grateful," wrote Roger and Jackie Provost in a letter from the Bridgewater, MA based bistro owners. The letter continued, "We may be a small fish in your big pond, but please be assured that this fish will not be migrating anywhere during this uncertain time."

A similar note was also sent along by Bob, Paul and Claire Venditti, the owners of the Mattakeese Wharf based in Barnstable, MA, "Just a note to let you know we will stand by you and wait for your return to business."

Jack Spinetto of Dave's Dinner of Middleboro, MA noted, "I just wanted to drop you a note to congratulate you, the Cirelli family, and your entire team on the great teamwork and hard work that had to have taken place to be back in business today. Welcome back!"

GLICH IN RECORD SETTING SALES YEAR
"This glitch in business helped us realize our strengths as an organization and the important role we play in our customer's business," noted Charles "Chuck" Dillon, President and CEO of 54-year-old family owned food distributorship. He added, "I think our customers appreciated that we kept them informed, helped them resource other distributors for necessary supplies, and meet the challenge to get back to full operation in a miraculous time."

Dillon continued, "In addition to having a disaster plan in place, the effort of our 120 employees helped us to return to full speed as soon as possible." Cirelli's more than 120 salespeople, office staff and truck drivers were paid through the transition period.

Dillon underscored, "We are fully insured and are covered for loss of product, interruption of business and associated expenses, so financially we are as sound as ever. Ironically, our sales have been exceeding projections by 8% and we are on target to surpass our annual sales goal of $45-million."

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Cirelli Foods, founded by John Cirelli, is now being run by the next generation of the Cirelli family and Charles "Chuck" Dillon. Cirelli Foods is conveniently located at 970 West Chestnut St. on the west side of Brockton, so close to Route 24 that you can see the sign near the Route 123 exit. The company has recently expanded to 18 trucks and 120 employees with the opening of the new Cirelli's Warehouse Marketplace.
    
Previously referred to as Cirelli's Cash & Carry, the retail division was founded in 1967 when Cirelli Foods moved their operations from Forest Street, Brockton to its current headquarters on the west side of the city. Today, Cirelli's Warehouse Marketplace is a state-of-the-art retail operation offering a wide selection of name brand foods, paper goods and beer & wine as well as full liquor to both foodservice customers and the general public.

For additional information about Cirelli Foods and the new Cirelli Warehouse Marketplace, please call 1-800-242-0939.

EDITORS -

For more information or interviews with Chuck Dillon, president and CEO of Cirelli Foods, please contact Steve Dubin at (781) 878-9533 or sdubin@prworkzone.com.