Author: Rosella Presta

Now more than ever there is an increasing awareness on sustainability and protecting the environment. On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day. Earth day is about planning a better future for the environment. It is about talking steps now to help tomorrow. At Caputo’s sustainability is a big part of who we are. We have taken many steps to make sure our practices are good for the environment.

One action we have taken is our lighting. We utilize LED lights in our interior and exterior. LED consumes up to 90% less power, has a longer life, is non toxic, is recyclable, and reduces carbon footprint by a third.

We also us CO2 transcritical systems for our refrigeration. Most refrigerators use freon, which kills the ozone layer and leaks very easily. Our CO2 systems are better for pipelines, non-corrosive, and less likely to leak. CO2 is a huge reduction in our carbon footprint. Our systems are equivalent to recycling 22,229,997 pounds of waste, saving 7,337,324,035 gallons of gas over ten years, and planting 1,657,274,782 trees over ten years!

Another initiative we take is in our recycling. We know that cardboard can pile up in your house. Whether you order things or have boxes laying around, cardboard collects and the proper way to dispose of it is to recycle it. We offer bins in front of our stores where you can drop off your cardboard whenever you want and we will take care of recycling it for you! All you have to do is put your cardboard in the bin and we will properly recycle it! By recycling cardboard, we conserve valuable resources and reduce pollution from production of new materials.

We also have reusable cups. Our 28oz double walled tumblers feature a plastic straw and are suitable for hot or cold drinks. Reusable cups are good because they reduce waste. The number of cups that get thrown out each day is very high, reusable cups keep that number low. Another positive is that they are less likely to spill because the lids are secured and our tumblers are only $7.99!

In addition, we have reusable bags! Reusable bags are better than plastic bags for many reasons. Plastic bags don’t biodegrade and they are harder for the environment to break down– it can take anywhere from 15 to 1,000 years to break down. Because they are lightweight, they are more likely to fly away and turn into littler. This litter can be harmful to animals. Reusable bags are also more durable. They can hold more and they last longer. The average reusable bag has a lifespan equal to that of more than 700 disposable plastic bags. By purchasing and using a reusable bag, we have the power to eliminate a lot of waste and potential dangers to the environment.

Earth Day is a day to raise awareness about initiatives to help the environment in order to create a better future for the next generations. We hope you will join us in taking action and steps to protect our home.

From Our Family To Yours

The weather is warmer, basketball is always on TV, and bracket season has begun! We are always down for a little friendly competition, so we have developed a bracket of our own. Our first annual Caputo’s Faves Madness competition puts some of our signature and favorite items head to head and asks the real hard hitting questions, like eclairs or cannoli. Submit your brackets for a chance to win a Caputo’s gift card and apron!

It is very simple to enter. The first thing to do is fill out the bracket.  Brackets are very easy to fill out, all you have to do is look at the 2 items being matched up. You select which one you like better and move that onto the next round. For example, in the cannoli vs eclairs competition, I chose cannoli so I moved it to the next round. Then in the lobster tails vs cream puffs, I chose lobster tails and so that advanced. Now, I am forced to choose between cannoli and lobster tails (a very hard decision).

You continue to do that for every pair until you pick a winner.  You have a few different options for the way you choose to fill out your bracket. You can save the bracket as a PDF and fill it out on your computer or just type right on the bracket page. You can also screenshot it and fill it in with photo editing tools. Another way to fill it out is to print it out and fill it in by hand, then email it to us or turn it in at the service desk of your local store.

To figure out who the winners are, we are leaving it up to you! Every item in the competition is completely fan voted. Throughout the next weeks, we will feature the polls on various social media sites. Make sure you are following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you can cast your votes. The votes will be tallied and the winning items will be posted. The championship round will be on April 8th!

What happens if you win? You get a Caputo’s gift card and a Caputo’s apron! So fill out your bracket and join the madness!

Check out the official rules and scoring and get the bracket here!

From Our Family To Yours

2019 will mark our 61st year in business. 2018 was a milestone year for us that allowed us to look back on all the memories we have created over the years. What started as an Italian immigrant looking to live out the American Dream has flourished into 7 stores throughout the Chicagoland area. At our core, we are a family and are lucky enough to now have 4 generations of Caputos! As a family owned and operated business, we strive to bring the healthiest and freshest products to you and your family.

Caputo’s was opened in 1958 by my grandfather, Angelo Caputo. He was born in Mola di Bari, Italy and immigrated to America at the age of 18. To gain entry into the country, he enlisted in the US Army. One thing about my grandpa, that is still true to this day, is that he is a determined man. He has the ability to accomplish whatever he sets his mind to, no matter what obstacles stand in his way. It was that state of mind that got him to where he is today. He believed in himself and never settled. He came to America with a goal– make something of himself and live out the American Dream. He put everything he had towards accomplishing his goal and his hard work paid off. In 1958, on the corner of Harlem and Wrightwood in Elmwood Park, Angelo opened Caputo’s New Farm Produce. That is what started it all.

To me, Angelo is synonymous with Romana. Angelo fell in love with Romana at a young age when he was still in Italy and their love story is very special. My grandpa would hang out in places just to catch a glimpse of my grandmother. He was without her for a while when he moved to America, but Romana was always on his mind. When he was in the army, he asked for a leave and went straight back to Mola di Bari to find out if Romana was still in love with him. A few weeks later, in 1956, they were married! They shared a beautiful story together. In 1984, they were back in Italy visiting family and looking at product manufacturers in hopes of launching a private label. When thinking of a name for this upcoming private label, Angelo decided this was the perfect opportunity to honor the beauty of his wife. He named the new brand, La Bella Romana which translates to The Beautiful Romana. Anyone who knew my grandmother knew that she was the most incredible woman. She had a heart bigger than anyone could imagine. She was selfless, humble, and kind. She was the best cook. She was beautiful inside and out. Romana lost a battle with cancer in 2004, but her memory and legacy live on.

While Angelo is retired, you can usually find him drinking an espressino or fixing a produce display. He left the business in the hands of his son-in-law, Robertino, and daughter, Antonella. My parents met when my father started working at Caputo’s at a young age. My siblings and I are very fortunate to have such hard working and dedicated role models in our lives.

We want to thank our extended family of customers for their loyalty throughout the past 60 years and we look forward to continuing to make more memories in the years to come!

From Our Family To Yours

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Valentine’s Day dates back to the 400s when Romans would celebrate Lupercalia, a festival to celebrate the beginning of Spring. It was later named Valentine’s Day when Roman priest, Valentine, died on February 14 and was later canonized and became St. Valentine. Legend has it that while in prison, St. Valentine would write love letters to his jailor’s daughter and sign it “Your Valentine.” He became the patron saint of lovers and so people began to celebrate Valentine’s Day in his honor. February 14th is known as the day to spend time with your loved ones and show them you care. There are many little things that can help you show someone that you’re thinking of them.

An easy reminder of your feelings is flowers! With all the different bouquets and arrangements, it is easy to find the one that fits your loved ones perfectly. Whether you want to order an arrangement or just pick up a bouquet, we have just what you need! Flowers are proven to release happy chemicals into the brain because the vibrant colors, the fragrance, and the overall look can bring about a sense of joy. Flowers are a great way to spread love. We have a wide selection of flowers at each store. You can also call Naperville, South Elgin, or Carol Stream to place a custom order!

If your Valentine has a sweet tooth, we’ve got just the thing for you! Our bakery has a variety of Valentine’s Day sweets! We have special heart shaped sugar cookies and butter cookies decorated with pink sprinkles. We have chocolate covered pretzels and delicious chocolate covered strawberries. We also have special, heart shaped cannoli cake or a cookie cake. Nothing quite says “I love you” like a sweet from our La Bella Romana Bakery!

If you plan on having a quiet dinner at home to celebrate, we have what you need to make a simple and tasty meal. Pick up one of our chef kits for an easy Valentine’s Day meal. We have 5 different meals– all fresh ingredients, vacuum sealed and packed in a box for your convenience. Slow cooker pot roast, asian style salmon, and more delicious meals to cook for your special someone on Valentine’s Day! Don’t forget to stop by our liquor department to pick up the perfect wine to compliment your meal.

We hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with love and happiness ❤️

From Our Family To Yours