Donio expanding facility, adds key staff

Frank Donio Inc., a full-line produce distributor in Hammonton, NJ, continues to grow with the expansion of its dock area and cooler, and the addition of key company personnel.

According to Pat Aloisio, who joined the company in October as general manager, a project that is underway will add three coolers and 16 receiving doors to the facility, bringing the total square footage of cooling and storage space to 150,000.

"The expansion essentially doubles the amount of space we have now," said Mr. Aloisio. "Our plans are to install racks in our coolers that will allow us to store product three high, enabling us to handle more product and more variety." The company's transportation division also will be expanded to handle the increase of product. Presently, Donio maintains a fleet that consists of six tractors, 16 refrigerated trailers, a six-wheel straight job and some pickup trucks. The company also contracts with common carriers for an additional 30 tractor trailers. Mr. Aloisio said the fleet of vehicles would increase by an unspecified amount.

Mr. Aloisio is no stranger to the produce industry, and certainly no stranger to Donio Inc. His October hiring is his second stint with the company, and he said it was Donio's upward direction that lured him back.

"I started my career in the transportation industry right out of college with NFI Industries in Vineland," he said. "In 1993, I joined Donio as operations manager and left in 1998 to join an NFI affiliate, NFI Interactive."

During his time away from Donio, Mr. Aloisio said he kept in contact with company officials, whom he has known for many years from growing up in the area. Several months ago, with the expansion project on the board, he was approached about coming back to the company as its general manager.

"I recognized that it was a great opportunity for me. Donio is such a progressive and proactive company," said Mr. Aloisio, who added that during his first stint with the company, he received valuable experience with all aspects of the business, including receiving and inspection.

Also new to the company's staff is Joe Grasso, who joined Donio on Jan. 2 after a 17-plus year career with C.T. Grasso, also in Hammonton. Mr. Grasso, who represented the second generation at C.T. Grasso, said the company closed its doors Dec. 31 after 30 years in business.

"[At C.T. Grasso], I felt we didn't have the ability to expand as much as I wanted," Mr. Grasso said. "I wasn't able to handle the number of items I would have liked to handle. Here at Donio, we carry 180 to 200 items 365 days a year, compared to 30 to 40 items during the summer, and 10 to 15 items during the winter at Grasso."

Mr. Grasso said that Donio can also offer superior service due to its ability to procure items and turn orders around quickly.

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