Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
I recently paid a visit to the Frank Granato Importing Co., more commonly known as Granatos, in Salt Lake. And I was delighted with the kindness of the Granato staff.
Upon my arrival, I watched as a friendly staff worked to answer a customer's question. The inquiring woman had seen a cooking program on television the day before and was wondering if Granatos carried a certain product seen on the program. The woman, however, could not remember the name of the product, so the Granatos staff jumped on the Internet to look up the TV program. They quickly determined the woman was looking for cannoli, a delicious Italian dessert, and they showed her where to find it. What an impressive display of customer service!
After helping this customer, owner Sam Granato took me on a tour of the store, which includes a deli, a bakery and an impressive oil and vinegar tasting bar. As Sam showed me around, he frequently paused along the way to greet customers. He knew many of them by name, and it was obvious he had developed a friendship with most of them.
The warm and welcoming atmosphere at Granatos enhances the already rich tradition of the company. Granatos was founded in 1948 by Sam's father, Frank. As a child, Sam helped his father around the store by grating cheese and loading trucks. He eventually took over the store in 1974 and opened a second store in Holladay nine years ago.
Sam treated me to a delicious prosciutta and provolone sandwich for lunch. Granatos' menu is full of mouth-watering sandwiches, and the selection of imported meats and cheeses in the deli is vast. The bakery offers more than 30 fresh breads and pastries that are prepared each morning. And the imported chilies, pastas and olives looked delicious.
Granatos is also gearing up for the Holiday season. The company is planning to ship out 10,000 holiday baskets filled with delicious imported foods.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
