He designed the logo. He became known for his capers in public in a pickle suit worn on the Boston Common. The “pickle man” caught the public’s imagination and the media’s attention. The marketing efforts – and fresh, quality product – soon caught the attention of major outlets – Fenway and global Whole Foods. Grillo’s Pickles are found at both, and now at BJ’s, Costco, Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Shaws, and Publix. The next big retailers to stock the shelves with Grillo’s Pickles are Target and Walmart.
operations of the company. It has a marketing team and operations, sales, and marketing are datadriven. Going corporate has not been easy because he’s an operational businessman, and focusing on strategy and planning are not as hands-on as “the pickle man” has been. With his vision, energy, and commitment to hard work, though, the growth seems limitless for Grillo’s Pickles. “But in my mind, I’m still in the street,” Grillo reflects.
Throughout the expansion, Travis has remained true to his family’s recipe. Grillo travels to each plant to teach the workers himself how to make the pickles. Flavors include Classic Italian Dill, Hot Italian Dill, and Bread & Butter, in chips and spears. “I’ve always loved business,” Grillo says. He gives several pieces of advice to young entrepreneurs. “Don’t be afraid to be broke and don’t be afraid of failure,” he admonishes firmly. Like others who have traveled his path, he encourages risk-taking and “leaps of faith.” Most of all, Grillo encourages,
“ Don’t be afraid to learn from your mistakes. I think that is something I became very comfortable with early on through my artwork.” And the company continues to expand. With the partnership with Target, Grillo found a platform to build and market his lifestyle brand. The company sells a variety of merchandise, including apparel, with the trademark Grillo’s Pickle logo. Recently, he designed a pickle-themed pair of sneakers in collaboration with Patrick Ewing’s sneaker company, an act which brought him full circle. Today, Grillo’s Pickles has a Board of Directors and an executive team that manages the day to day
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