Celebrating 90 Years of Innovation
1936
Italian immigrant Michael Gagliardo opened the doors of a small grocery store on Chicago's West Side to serve local families.
1940s
During World War II, an olive oil shortage hit the region, and Gagliardo leaned on his Italian roots to quickly source a supplier to keep Chicago kitchens running.
Later, when his tin supplier closed, Gagliardo purchased and rebuilt a fire-damaged can-fabricating machine—a defining moment that set the family on a new course.
1950s
With his son, Michael V., joining the business, the father-and-son duo closed the grocery store and launched Columbus Packing Company in the Noble Square neighborhood. The company became a trusted supplier to ethnic food wholesalers across the city — a reputation that endures today.
1960s
In Chicago, the Kennedy Expressway project forced the Gagliardos to relocate to a new facility on Bell Street — and Columbus Foods Company was born.
1970s-1990s
The next generation, siblings Michael Jr. and Paulette, later took the helm. Together, they expanded production and launched Soaper’s Choice, among many other accomplishments.
2000s
After Michael Jr.’s tragic passing in 2001, Paulette led the company into a new era of innovation.
2010-2020s
Over the next two decades, the company relocated to our current rail-served plant in Des Plaines, expanded into the dressings, dips and sauces market and opened a West Coast manufacturing facility in Nevada — all while introducing new oil varieties.
Today
Columbus Vegetable Oils is a global processor of more than 300 in-stock oils, serving the foodservice, manufacturing, retail, export and private-label industries.
It remains a resilient force in the evolving fats and oils industry and is guided by the same philosophy that started it all on Chicago’s West Side: “We don’t sell oil—we sell service.”
