NJ Member Spotlight – David Battisti – The Pork Roll Store

May 24, 2023 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

NJ Member Spotlight – David Battisti – The Pork Roll Store

NFIB Member David Battisti is the proud owner of one of the largest grocery retailer and distributors of Italian-American products in the Trenton, NJ area. His family has been in the food business for 94 years which he accredits to the family’s shared strong work ethic. “We pride ourselves on hard work, respect, honesty, quality, and excellent customer service,” he said. The story of the Battisti family and their business is one of true American spirit which began with his Italian immigrant grandfather, who pulled himself up by his bootstraps to start his own business. David’s Grandfather, Gabriel Battisti, emigrated from Italy to the United States at the age of 16, unable to speak English and with no family in America. After working for several years for the railroad, he founded the family businesses in 1920 when he partnered with his brother-in-law Samuel Mazzilli. In 1950 David’s father, Gabriel Battisti Jr. embarked upon a business venture on his own when he opened a grocery store and butcher shop in Hamilton Township, which eventually lead to him being a part of the founding of the Shop n Bag supermarket chain. In the interest of diversification, Gabriel formed the business that David now runs which is known as The Pork Roll Store in Allentown, NJ. “We are carrying on that age-old tradition of custom meat passed down from three generation of family know-how and customer satisfaction,” David said. The Pork Roll Store offers a large variety of homemade meat products; country made pork roll, polish kielbasa, Italian sausage and much more! Their homemade products are available via retail, wholesale, and mail. David said that he’s following family tradition by staying innovative; he regularly spends time educating himself about product technology. He also attends seminars in U.S.D.A compliance, and researches updates online. “This enables us to always be trend ready. After 94 years in business things have changed and it’s time to reinvent ourselves while staying true to our core values,” David said. “I have been involved in the family business since I was ten years-old, by the time I was 17 I was an accomplished butcher. Working after school and through collage the family business has always been part of my life.” After being involved in the family business form a young age, David said he’s happy to own the business and be a small business owner. He said that he finds formulating new products and finding customers for them to be the most rewarding aspect of owning the business. But, he also finds owing a small business challenging at times. He said that some of the biggest challenges a small business owner can face are the laws and regulations that are mandated yearly. “That is the very reason why I joined NFIB,” he said. “I have experienced regulatory concerns where I felt like we were engaging in attacks with automatic weapon war fare, and I was standing there throwing rocks” “It is great to have a voice and this is what NFIB has done for me,” he said. “In this ever-changing business climate it is great to have a resource that you can count on. I have been involved in the leadership council with the NFIB for six years now and I am planning to continue.” Visit the Pork Roll Store’s Website Follow the Pork Roll Store on Facebook If you would like your business to be spotlighted, email Miranda Bond at miranda.bond@nfib.org

Topics:

NFIB Member Feature

State:

New Jersey