Saco Foods

Bartel Sanna founded SACO Foods in 1973 in Madison, Wisconsin. By then, heÕd already been in the dairy business for nearly four decades, running Sanna Dairies with his father and brothers. In 1985, SACO introduced its first truly unique productÑSACO Cultured Buttermilk Blend. SACO Buttermilk quickly became a kitchen staple, widely used by food writers, editors, and recipe developers. It offered all the benefits of real cultured buttermilk in cooking and baking, without the hassle and waste of using fluid buttermilk. And hereÕs the ÒrealÓ surprise: todayÕs fluid buttermilk doesnÕt contain a drop of real buttermilk. SACO Cultured Buttermilk Blend is the only real cultured buttermilk currently available in the supermarket. Bartel figured out pretty quickly that retirement didnÕt suit himÑhe missed the active life of running a business. And so, in 1973, on his 60th birthday, he founded SACO Foods. Once again, he was swimming against the economic current, founding his new company at the nadir of AmericaÕs post-World War II economy. SACOÕs first product was MixÕn Drink Instant Nonfat Dry MilkÑjust the product the tough economic conditions demanded. In a grocery category generally ordered by the case, SACOÕs product sold by the truckload. Because of its price and exceptional quality, MixÕn Drink became an ÒinstantÓ success. In 1975, BartelÕs two sons, Ramon and Anthony, brought the ÒfamilyÓ to their fatherÕs second family business. Ramon, who had an engineering background, and Anthony, who had degrees in art and design, contributed key skills that helped the company grow and expand with new packages and products.SACO FoodsÕ enduring commitments to quality and community show in the foods they produce, the long-term loyalty of their employees and customers, and their stewardship of the natural environment.