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Ralph Aversa was born in a little town called St. Catarina, in Calabria, where he spent his childhood on the family farm milking cows and using their milk to make fresh mozzarella cheese. He developed a passion for fresh food that did not end there. At a very young age he was impressed with the inner workings of dough, especially intrigued with the idea that ’bread is alive’. He watched in amazement at how it would rise and continued learning and perfecting his bread making skills. In the afternoons, after school, he apprenticed in his uncle’s small bakery shop "Il Panificio", where he would round bread and shape long baguettes by hand. The bread was well known and it was difficult keeping up with the demands of all the eagerly awaiting customers.
At the young age of 14 Aversa had to leave his hometown and come to America to work. When he arrived in Philadelphia in the early 1960s, his aunt got him a job working in Cacia’s bakery in South Philadelphia which ended up being a fortuitous move. He continued to rise before the sun and work hard to make the dream of owning his own bakery a reality. He married into the Cacia family and eventually, when his children were small, the Aversa Family moved to New Jersey so he could open his first eponymous bakery.
With the help of only one employee, Aversa’s bakery started as a one room operation where they sold bread, pizza and Stromboli. As times changed, so did the bakery. Bigger companies started purchasing bread and rolls, and the word spread. Today, Aversa’s bread can be found from Northeast Philly all the way to Cape May. The store has grew to become a spacious 3800 sq. ft. Italian specialty store, featuring hundreds of products imported straight from Italy as well as many breads, pastries, prepared foods and gift baskets made on premises. It is a family owned and operated business, with long time employees that have become part of the family. Six years ago Aversa’s opened in Brigantine, NJ and the latest success is the newest store in Margate, NJ. One thing that has not changed with time is Aversa’s determination to produce the highest quality products available and his commitment to satisfying his customers’ needs. Ralph, his wife and his children invite you to come to one of their bakeries and join in their family tradition.
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