It all began when my father Louie started making homemade sausage in 1959 for our friends and family ... Fifty-Four years later our sausage has won many National and Regional cooking competitions and my father and I were inducted into the Sausage Makers Hall of Fame in 2009. What a ride it’s been! Our passion for Italian Sausage has given our family much more than anyone could have ever imagined. This business is a way of life that is centered around spending time with our friends and family, wonderful food, laughter, love and good times. We sincerely hope that our award-winning products and recipes will help make your next meal or family event one to remember!

Thanks for visiting our site today! If you have any recipes that you would like to share or have any questions please let me know, I would love to hear from you!

Warmly, Tony Caldarello

Family History

Sausage was probably the most important staple in the Caldarello household while Tony was growing up. His grandfather, Lawrence Caldarello, had a special sausage recipe that was used over the years as the focal point for “sausage parties” routinely enjoyed by family and friends.

Tony's dad, Louie, also enjoyed making sausage, and after learning the trade from Lawrence, he purchased his first stuffer in 1959, a piece of equipment he still has, along with a few others he has collected over the years. Louie delights in the memories he has of his dad making at least 100 pounds of sausage each Holiday Season to give as gifts to his customers.

Quality and taste were top priorities for this young sausage maker. After many experiments of mixing and tasting ingredients, Lawrence finally created the perfect recipe. From that point on, the sausage became staple in the Caldarello home. After many years of making the Sausage with his grandfather and father Louie, Tony decided to go into the Sausage business himself. Luckily, Tony convinced his father Louie to give him the secret recipe. That secret recipe has proven to be the key ingredient to a winning formula combining sausage, business, and most importantly, passion for the product and an unparalleled enthusiasm for continuing to bring new products and taste sensations to his customers.

It did not take long for people from all over to fall in love with Caldarello Italian Sausage. In 1992, the company took third place in The American Royal Invitational BBQ Cook-Off held in Kansas City, Missouri, and then captured first place in the Open category the following year. In 1997, the family business garnered the top spot at the American Royal BBQ Cook-Off Invitational category which had 350 participants! The winner of the Invitational category was and is revered as the champion of champions, Caldarello Italian Sausage has clearly proven its worth as a leader in the sausage industry.

Caldarello Italian Sausage fan base has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, with customers from around the world and because of selling its products to numerous restaurants and venues throughout the Midwest. If you ever enjoyed any delicious sausage products at a Kansas City Royals baseball game at “The K” or at a Kansas City Chiefs football game at Arrowhead Stadium, chances are your taste buds have danced to the flavor of Caldarello Italian Sausage.

 We do more than make the best tasting Italian Sausage on the planet, we are also involved in numerous philanthropic activities and a supporter of many charitable organizations like the Leukemia Society of America, an organization close to Tony’s heart. When a young child in his extended family was diagnosed with this disease years ago, Tony made it his mission to raise money and awareness for this cause. The child courageously won the battle and is now cancer-free, yet Tony’s dedication to the cause has never waned. Tony once spent 28 hours atop a billboard in Kansas City for the Leukemia Society in the pouring rain to raise money and awareness for this great cause. His efforts resulted in over $10,000.00 of charitable donations given.

Tony’s wife, Rhonda has enthusiastically joined the family business, lending her talents and charm to the endeavor. The Caldarello family legacy continues, by bringing its customers the best products available anywhere.