Growth
Home-cooked growth
Big expansions are translating into big growth for Scott Ricketts and MID’S Pasta Sauces.
By Matt McClellan
Smart Business Akron/Canton | May 2007
Scott Ricketts, president and CEO of MID’S Pasta Sauces, is thinking big. The Navarre-based sauce maker is expanding in every facet of its business. Since Ricketts’ purchase of the MID’S brand in 1997, the size of the business has
grown exponentially. Sales are six times what they were in 1997, and the number of full-time employees has grown from five to 24.
Possibly the most telling sign of growth for a pasta sauce maker is the number of places its products can be purchased
and MID’S sauces are now available in more than 1,600 stores across 11 states. That is quite an improvement from the
80 stores that carried MID’S six years ago.
MID’S Pasta Sauces has a venerable history, beginning in 1938, when Mideo (the company’s namesake) immigrated to
America with a dream and a recipe. His centuries-old Sicilian recipe quickly developed a reputation in the Canton area.
When Ricketts purchased the company, he wanted to expand the brand to be available to a wider audience.
To achieve that end, MID’S has made many changes — but of course not to the signature recipe. Since 1997, six new
varieties of pasta sauce have been developed, including Italian sausage with peppers; tomato, basil and mushroom; and
Arrabiatta Delicato (which translates to “mildly spicy”).
MID’S made many growth initiatives in 2006, the largest of which was the construction of a brand-new facility. The
company spent close to $3 million on capital investments, including $1.6 million on the building and $1.2 million on new
equipment.
As a result, the future is bright for MID’S Pasta Sauces because the new facility will allow the company to expand to
4.5 times their current size. Also, the new equipment has allowed MID’S to automate several procedures while keeping
the consistent quality of the product.
Last year, MID’S was honored with the East Central Ohio Food Dealers “Spotlight Award.” The company also contributes to several area charities.
HOW TO REACH: MID’S Pasta Sauces, (330) 879-5486 or www.mids.cc
