We posted a few weeks ago about Paciugo moving into Lakewood, and suggested Central Market had terminated the gelato company’s lease. Paciugo co-founder Cristiana Ginatta wasn’t too happy with us, and sent in clarification:
"…In September 2006, we made the decision that we had to focus on supporting our franchisees because we are still a small company with limited resources and we didn’t have enough people to give high quality support to both Central Market and our franchisees. We then approached Central Market to plan the termination of our partnership. Since we had an excellent relationship for 4.5 years, we wanted to give them all the time needed to find alternative suppliers and to train the employees. … I don’t know if when we approached Central Market they were already evaluating alternative suppliers; what I know is that, when we asked them to terminate the partnership, they were open to our proposal and willing to work to find a solution that will be the best one for both companies."
She also added: "The reason we came to Lakewood is because we found the perfect franchisee that is totally involved and committed to her neighborhood and to making delicious gelato every day."
Look for November’s A List e-newsletter for more details on what franchisees Shaun and April Charlemagne-Walding have planned for the Lakewood Paciugo location. If you’re not subscribed to the A List, you can sign up here.
