Pittsfield - 18 July, 1999 -

Frozen fruit bar distributors Anthony and Tammy Cracolici of East New Lenox Road are featured in the August issue of Home Business Magazine as well as the July edition of Inc.: The Magazine for Growing Companies. Their Pure & Wholesome Distributors has been marketing Fruitfull frozen fruit bars, a low-fat, no-additive, frozen treat-on-a-stick for four years. The article in home Business Magazine highlights the Cracolicis’ decision to live out their dream of owning their own business. The Inc. article tells many of the benefits the couple has reaped from their franchising experience, such as increased family time. After graduation from Columbia University, Anthony Cracolici, who grew up in Oceanside, N.Y., joined GE and later worked for Lockheed Martin, now General Dynamics. Now 47, he received a layoff notice in April 1996. The couple attended a business trade show in Albany, N.Y. and sampled Fruitfull fruit bars. They researched the company, based in Boca Raton, Fla., and bought the franchise. "Our $40,000 initial investment included two weeks with our marketing representative, plus three pallets of products and 20 of our display freezers, and everything from point-of-sale materials, invoices and even a book on how to do accounting," said Tammy Cracolici. The retail sale price of the bars is from $1 to $2. Gross receipts are now about $8,000 a month. The couple met when both worked at GE; they married in 1992. A Pittsfield native, the former Tammy DiNicola, 31, graduated from Boston College in 1990. She works the business and makes most of the deliveries, while her husband works part time at Filene’s in Lanesboro. They share the care of their son, Tommy, 5. "We’ve had a lot of success this year with summer camps," said Tammy Cracolici. They also have 60 corporate accounts, including health-food stores, hospitals and businesses. Local customers include Currier & Chives, caterer at Tanglewood; Guidos Marketplace in Great Barrington and Pittsfield; and Gymfest of the Berkshires and Berkshire West Athletic Club, both in Pittsfield. They recently added Sunbird Snacks, a line of trail mixes, chocolate/yogurt assortments and salty snacks. "They complement our other products and help during the fall and winter slowdown," said Tammy Cracolici.

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