Independent grocer Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace is marking its 25th anniversary with a year-long celebration honoring its Italian culinary heritage, community roots, and ambitious expansion plans.
Founded in 1998 as a single 7,800-square-foot market on Hempstead Turnpike, the Melville, N.Y.-based retailer has grown into a regional specialty food destination operating 12 supermarkets across Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey. The milestone celebration officially launches on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, under the theme “25 Years of Italian Taste and Tradition.”
The company’s journey reflects scale and craftsmanship. According to figures cited by Progressive Grocer, Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace hand-rolls more than 676,000 meatballs each year, produces 10.3 million ravioli, fills more than 86,000 cannoli, and bakes nearly a quarter-million cakes and pies annually. The retailer also bakes more than 310,000 baguettes every year—enough, if placed end to end, to stretch the full length of Long Island. “We made a conscious decision to create an Italian-centric market, reminiscent of the experience we had as kids, the Little Italys of Brooklyn and the Bronx, where neighborhood markets were the center of community and family life,” said Carl DelPrete, who co-founded the company with his brother, Philip DelPrete, and operating partner Tom Barresi. “Twenty-five years later, we’re still making everything from scratch, the same way we did on day one. That’s not nostalgia, that’s just how good food gets made,” he added.
Today, Uncle Giuseppe’s employs about 2,700 people and produces nearly 1,000 items in-store daily across its locations. The retailer positions its stores as experiential marketplaces where customers can watch fresh foods being crafted on site. “Watch your mozzarella being made, your pasta being rolled, your bread coming out of the oven,” DelPrete said. “That’s not a gimmick – that’s just how we’ve always done it.”
The anniversary campaign will feature several initiatives designed to celebrate customers and the company’s culinary legacy. The festivities begin on March 19 with a St. Joseph’s Day promotion in which customers named Joseph, Giuseppe, Josie, Joanne, Josephine, or any derivative of Joe will receive a complimentary St. Joseph’s Day pastry at the bakery counter after presenting a valid ID at customer service. Beginning March 20, the retailer will launch a gift card sweepstakes, with each store giving away 25 $100 gift cards. Customers can enter via the company’s website.
Another key initiative is the “25 Founding Favorites” collection, which will highlight signature products that helped build the business, including fresh cannoli, chicken cutlets, and Sunday gravy. The grocer is also inviting customers to contribute family recipes for a community cookbook titled “Recipes from Nonna.” Submissions are open now, with the commemorative book scheduled for release in the fall.
Expansion is also part of the anniversary story. Uncle Giuseppe’s plans to open two new stores in 2026, including a 56,000-square-foot flagship in Greenvale during the summer and a Levittown location later in the year. The company is also preparing for broader national expansion beginning in 2027.
Community engagement remains a core element of the brand’s identity. As part of the anniversary campaign, Uncle Giuseppe’s is strengthening partnerships with local food pantries and schools to support food access and education initiatives.
The atmosphere of a traditional Italian marketplace is defined by fresh-baked bread, homemade meals, and handcrafted specialties. Alongside its artisan offerings, Uncle Giuseppe’s also carries a full range of natural and organic products, including organic baby food and healthy meal options for children’s lunches. The retailer’s 12-store network currently includes its newest location in Bohemia, New York, as it prepares to enter its next phase of growth.