Siciliano's year in review

The boss looks back at 2011, looks ahead to 2012. 

By Steve Siciliano

It would be an understatement to say that 2011 was a busy year for Siciliano’s Market. I’m not talking about sales, although business continues to be strong and I would like to thank all of our loyal customers for that. The busy-ness I’m referring to has to do with busting down walls, hiring contractors, meeting with a seemingly endless string of local and state officials, purchasing new racks and fixtures, finding a manufacturer to custom build stainless steel tanks for dispensing liquid malt, setting up the new west wing, remodeling the front end of the old space (east wing), installing two motorized malt mills, discovering that those mills couldn’t handle the volume of grain we put through them, purchasing a industrial-strength mill capable of handling the grinding needs of a small brewery and then seeing to it that the new mill was installed and operational during the busy, final week of December.

Then there was the addition of new products. During the past year we began carrying an extensive inventory of bulk ingredients for bread making, acquired a mill that allows our customers to grind their own flour and began carrying a line of soy milk makers. In 2011 we also acquired a new website, established an online store, hired a social media director and launched The Buzz. We held our largest homebrew competition to date, sponsored another round of seminars and hosted another successful homebrew party. Pheww!

Now that the busy holiday season is over it’s time to turn our attention to the upcoming year. The employees are already coming to me with ideas for new products and new ideas that would make Siciliano's even better. I have a few ideas of my own—hopefully this will be the year that we begin selling green coffee beans and home roasters. We’re also beginning to plan this year’s homebrew competition. We have been working on getting speakers for the May 4th seminars* and are currently discussing ideas for the 9th annual homebrew party to be held on May 5th at Johnson Park.

Thanks again for your support. I hope everyone has a happy and safe new year.

*Rob Gerrity, the field quality manager for Sierra Nevada, has already been confirmed.