Gandolfo's Hires Industry Veteran Born and Raised on Long Island to Revitalize New York Deli Segment
According to 'Save the Deli' author David Sax, there is no comparison between an ordinary sandwich and one from a New York delicatessen. No one knows that better than Dan Pool who discovered Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen in, of all places, Salt Lake City, Utah. It took one bite into a Gandolfo's sandwich for Pool to invest and ultimately become owner and CEO.
The company's tag line today, "One Bite... and You're There" isn't just a consumer line. Pool uses it as the basis for his recruitment strategy, working the brand's magic most recently to land former Moe's Co-Founder and Raving Brands executive Seth Salzman as its new Chief Operating Officer.
"We believe our food speaks volumes about the potential of our brand and the distinction between the crowded sandwich category and a New York deli experience," explains Pool. "So when Seth was on our radar as a potential COO, we simply exposed him to our product and let our food speak for itself. As a New Yorker, I knew that our Pastrami on Rye was going to be the sandwich that hooked him, so I just ordered one up and put it in front of him."
Started in the late 19th century by Jewish descendents who brought recipes with them from Europe and Russia to New York City, the first deli sandwiches were sold out of carts on the city streets. Due to its popularity and the commitment of using the freshest meats and ingredients, these famous recipes were eventually combined with the former German/American delicatessens to become what is viewed today as an authentic New York deli.
Known not only as a place to grab a bite to eat, but also as a place to gather and socialize, Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen is the nation's only "authentic" franchised delicatessen. Looking for the right talent to scale the business beyond its current 45 locations located largely in the Western United States, Gandolfo's is ready to expand across the nation with the addition of Salzman. As COO, Salzman will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership and management of all company and operations functions.
Prior to joining Gandolfo's, Salzman spent more than seven years as a founding partner of Raving Brands. While with Raving Brands, he was involved with brand development and operations serving as senior vice president and chief brand head of Boneheads Piri Piri Chicken and Grilled Fish, The Flying Biscuit Caf
