Deli’s recipe for success

By Shaun Inguanzo
FRANCO Muleta and Patricia Natoli were tired of working long hours for someone else, so the pair took the plunge and entered into a business venture of their own.
Both are owners of the popular Roma Deli Continental Food Store in Dandenong North, which specialises in continental foods and, in particular, Italian foods.
Franco and Patricia bought the business from Patricia’s uncle five years ago.
Since then, the deli has become successful, not only among the Italian community for its wide range of imported goods, but because of the food’s popularity among holiday-goers who have returned from the culinary delights in Italy.
“Quite surprisingly, many customers have been to Italy, have enjoyed the food and want to replicate it back into their daily diet,” Franco said.
Two weeks ago, Roma Deli was awarded top honours in the retail category at the Greater Dandenong Chamber of Commerce’s Premier Regional Business Awards.
The award signals the success both Patricia and Franco have worked hard to achieve, particularly in competing against large chain stores and supermarkets.
“We are looking at implementing new lines and diversity, we want to try to do a few other things that coincide with delis, but are a little bit different,” Franco said.
“We don’t want to become a run-of-the-mill deli, we want to be something different.
“Supermarkets are constantly changing the way they serve customers in their cold meat departments and we have to change the way we are doing things to remain one step ahead.”
But in the meantime, both Franco and Patricia are revelling in the success.
“The award was sensational, the mere fact of being nominated was astounding for us. We have only been in the business for a short time.”