Salumi Chicago
Salumi Chicago is an artisanal Italian cured-meat producer founded in 2013 in Chicago, selling clean-label salami, charcuterie, and gift boxes direct-to-consumer, through national foodservice distributors, and at grocery retailers across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Salumi Chicago does
Salumi Chicago is an artisanal Italian cured-meat (salumi) producer headquartered at 4725 S Talman Ave in Chicago, Illinois, operating since 2013. The company produces a portfolio of cured meats including five core salami varieties (Barolo, Finocchiona, Soppressata, Spanish Chorizo, Tartufo with black truffle), specialty charcuterie ('Nduja spreadable salame, Heritage Coppa, Heritage Pancetta Tessa, Cured Duck Breast, Wagyu Beef Bresaola, Bacon Bits All-Natural), and bundled gift-box and variety-pack SKUs. All products are manufactured using traditional Italian curing techniques taught directly to founder Greg Laketek by Master Salumiere Massimo Spigaroli at Antica Corte Pallavicina in Parma, Italy. The formulation architecture emphasizes clean-label inputs: heritage breed Duroc and Berkshire pork from family-owned Pennsylvania and Iowa farms, Trapani Sicilian sea salt, organic celery powder in lieu of synthetic nitrates, no added sugar, and no antibiotics — yielding products positioned as keto, paleo, gluten-free, and lactose-free.
The business operates three revenue streams: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via a Shopify storefront with nationwide USPS Priority shipping and free shipping over $50; wholesale foodservice distribution through national partners Sysco, US Foods, KeHe, Gourmet Foods International, and European Imports plus regional specialty distributors across the Midwest, Northeast, California, Arizona, Florida, and Nevada; and retail grocery placement at Mariano's, Kroger, King's Soopers, Erewhon Market, Caputo's Markets, and other regional grocers. A corporate gifting motion provides custom gift boxes with bulk and drop-ship fulfillment. The customer base spans health-conscious food enthusiasts, gift buyers, specialty grocery retailers, and fine-dining/foodservice operators.
Pricing ranges from approximately $7 for Bacon Bits to $132.70 for the Award-Winning Charcuterie Box Premium tier, with most salami products priced at $14.50–$14.99 and Wagyu Beef Bresaola commanding $64.99–$80. Distribution reach extends across the United States with no disclosed international markets. Recognition includes 2019 Charcuterie Masters Gold and Silver awards, 2023 Good Food Awards Finalist, 2019 Best of Chicago (Soppressata), and Forbes 30 Under 30 for founder Greg Laketek. The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional capital and operates independently following a 2013 separation from Moesle Meat Company.
Salumi Chicago firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Salumi Chicago
- Legal name
- Salumi Chicago
- Website
- https://salumichicago.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Salumi Chicago is an artisanal Italian cured-meat producer founded in 2013 in Chicago, selling clean-label salami, charcuterie, and gift boxes direct-to-consumer, through national foodservice distributors, and at grocery retailers across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Salumi Chicago industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Artisanal Charcuterie
- NAICS
- Food Manufacturing (311)
- SIC
- Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fermented & Air-Dried Charcuterie (Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto-Style) (AFANAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Deli Meats & Luncheon Meats (Sliced/Portioned Cold Cuts) (AFANAEAD), Cured Meats (Dry-Cured, Wet-Cured, Hams, Bacon) (AFANAEAA), Shelf-Stable Processed Meats (Canned, Retort Pouches, Jerky/Meat Snacks) (AFANAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Salumi Chicago is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Salumi Chicago business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Online sales through salumichicago.com Shopify store. Customers purchase individual products, variety packs, and gift boxes. Shipping is free for orders over $50.
- Retail Distribution: Wholesale sales through grocery retailers including Mariano's, Kroger, King's Soopers, Erewhon Market, Caputo's Markets, and regional grocers across the US.
- Wholesale/Foodservice: Wholesale distribution through national distributors (Sysco, US Foods, Gourmet Foods International, KeHe, European Imports) and regional specialty distributors to restaurants and foodservice operators.
- Corporate Gift Boxes: Special corporate gift packages with custom accoutrements, cheeses, and custom offerings. Drop shipping to customers or bulk delivery available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual salami products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Variety Packs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Charcuterie Gift Boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Products |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Salumi Chicago product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Salumi Chicago produces and sells artisanal Italian-style cured meats (salumi) including a portfolio of salamis (Barolo, Finocchiona, Soppressata, Spanish Chorizo, Tartufo), specialty cured proteins ('Nduja spreadable salame, Cured Duck Breast, Heritage Coppa, Wagyu Beef Bresaola, Heritage Pancetta, Bacon Bits), and bundled gift boxes for retail, foodservice, and corporate gifting customers. Products are made using traditional Italian curing methods, heritage breed pork, and clean-label ingredients without synthetic nitrates, added sugars, dextrose, hormones, or antibiotics.
Product overview
Salumi Chicago is an artisanal charcuterie company offering a portfolio of Italian-style cured meats and salami products. Their core offerings include individual salami varieties (Barolo, Finocchiona, Soppressata, Spanish Chorizo, Tartufo Black Truffle), specialty products ('Nduja spreadable salame, Cured Duck Breast, Heritage Coppa, Wagyu Beef Bresaola, Heritage Pancetta, Bacon Bits), and bundled gift box collections (4-pack and 5-pack variety packs, Award-Winning Charcuterie Box, Small Charcuterie Gift Box, seasonal gift boxes). All products are characterized by their natural curing process using traditional Italian methods without added sugars, nitrates, or nitrites (except naturally occurring), featuring heritage breed proteins and premium ingredients like Sicilian sea salt and Tellicherry black pepper.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Barolo Salami (Uncured)
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple products achieve 4.77-5.0 star ratings with 10+ reviews each
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Salumi Chicago
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Salumi Chicago technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Salumi Chicago partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SyscocoreNational foodservice distribution partnership for supplying Salumi Chicago products to restaurants and foodservice operators across the United States.
- US FoodscoreNational foodservice distribution partnership for supplying Salumi Chicago products to restaurants and foodservice operators across the United States.
- Gourmet Foods InternationalcoreNational specialty foodservice distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products nationwide.
- KeHecoreNational natural and organic foods distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products nationwide.
- European ImportscoreSpecialty European food importer and distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products nationwide.
- Greco and SonscoreRegional Midwest specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in the Midwest region.
- Artisan SpecialtycoreRegional Midwest specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in the Midwest region.
- Chefs Collective NYCcoreRegional Northeast specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in the New York metropolitan area.
- West Coast Prime MeatscoreRegional California specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in the California market.
- Peddler's SonminorRegional Arizona specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in the Arizona market.
- Sunshine ProvisionsminorRegional Florida specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in Southern Florida.
- Outwest MeatsminorRegional Nevada specialty food distributor partnership for distributing Salumi Chicago products in the Nevada market.
- FairecoreDirect wholesale ordering platform partnership allowing independent retailers to purchase Salumi Chicago products for resale.
- Moesle Meat CompanyminorHistorical business partnership with Chicago-based Moesle Meat Company that led to the formation of Salumi Chicago. Joel Janecek (Moesle owner) partnered with Greg Laketek to create the new brand. Companies have since separated and Salumi Chicago operates independently.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Salumi Chicago competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Columbus Craft Meats: Premium charcuterie and salami brand (now owned by Hormel) selling Italian-style cured meats including salami, prosciutto, and soppressata at retailers nationwide. Directly comparable in product category, clean-label positioning, and retail channel mix.
- La Quercia: Iowa-based producer of prosciutto, salami, and coppa using heritage breed pork and traditional Italian methods, distributed through specialty retail and DTC. Comparable in heritage breed sourcing, artisanal production, and premium cured meat category.
- Olli Salumeria: American-made artisanal Italian salami manufacturer using heritage breed pork and traditional Italian methods, sold through specialty grocery and foodservice. Closely comparable on heritage breed sourcing, Italian curing technique, and premium retail placement.
- Creminelli Fine Meats: Artisanal Italian salumi producer founded by a master salumiere trained in Italy, offering hand-crafted salami and cured meats distributed via DTC, specialty retail, and foodservice. Directly comparable in craft positioning, Italian provenance story, and multi-channel strategy.
- Olympia Provisions: Portland-based artisan salumeria producing Italian-style cured meats including salami, prosciutto, and chorizo using heritage breed pork, distributed nationally via specialty retail, DTC, and foodservice. Directly comparable as a craft American salumeria with multi-channel distribution.
- Fra' Mani: Artisanal handcrafted salumi and cured meats made with heritage breed pork from family farms in Northern California using Old World Italian techniques. Directly comparable in craft production, heritage breed sourcing, and chef/foodservice channel presence.
Broad incumbents
- Applegate Farms: Large-scale natural and organic meats brand offering deli meats, bacon, and sausage with clean-label positioning. Operates broadly across refrigerated natural meats, providing a wider portfolio that overlaps with Salumi Chicago's clean-label cured meat niche at scale.
- Boar's Head: National deli meat and cheese brand with extensive cured meats lineup including salami and soppressata. Competes for the same retail shelf space and foodservice charcuterie programs as Salumi Chicago, but at much greater scale.
- Hormel Foods: Major packaged meats conglomerate owning Columbus Craft Meats and a wide portfolio of cured and prepared meats. Represents the broad incumbent competitive set that Salumi Chicago competes against for distribution and shelf space.
Emerging players
- Esposito's Finest Quality Italian Sausage: NYC-based artisanal Italian sausage and charcuterie maker focused on traditional Italian cured meats for wholesale and foodservice. Comparable in craft Italian production approach and chef-driven foodservice focus, though more sausage-centric.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Salumi Chicago social profiles
Digital presenceSalumi Chicago financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Salumi Chicago leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Salumi Chicago funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Salumi Chicago M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Salumi Chicago
What does Salumi Chicago do?
Salumi Chicago produces and sells artisanal Italian-style cured meats (salumi) including a portfolio of salamis (Barolo, Finocchiona, Soppressata, Spanish Chorizo, Tartufo), specialty cured proteins ('Nduja spreadable salame, Cured Duck Breast, Heritage Coppa, Wagyu Beef Bresaola, Heritage Pancetta, Bacon Bits), and bundled gift boxes for retail, foodservice, and corporate gifting customers. Products are made using traditional Italian curing methods, heritage breed pork, and clean-label ingredients without synthetic nitrates, added sugars, dextrose, hormones, or antibiotics.
Is Salumi Chicago a public or private company?
Salumi Chicago is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Salumi Chicago founded?
Salumi Chicago was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Salumi Chicago based?
Salumi Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Salumi Chicago make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are retail Distribution, wholesale/Foodservice and corporate Gift Boxes.
Who are Salumi Chicago's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Columbus Craft Meats, La Quercia, Olli Salumeria, Creminelli Fine Meats, Olympia Provisions and Fra' Mani. Broad incumbents are Applegate Farms, Boar's Head and Hormel Foods. Esposito's Finest Quality Italian Sausage is listed as an emerging player.
Does Salumi Chicago have an API?
No public API is recorded for Salumi Chicago.
What industry is Salumi Chicago in?
Salumi Chicago's product category is Artisanal Charcuterie. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFANAEAE, Fermented & Air-Dried Charcuterie (Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto-Style), with a secondary code of AFANAEAD, Deli Meats & Luncheon Meats (Sliced/Portioned Cold Cuts). Its NAICS code is 311 and its SIC code is 2013.