From wholesale to community impact; food bank and local business thrive together

CLEVELAND — Thinking outside the box to strengthen both a business and a food bank is happening right here in Cleveland, where a local wholesaler has become part of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s mission and community.

For 42 years, Catanese Classics has supplied restaurants with seasonings, cheeses, seafood, and nearly everything a kitchen might need.

“Between our seafood side and our dry side, you can start your own sushi restaurant tomorrow,” said Joey Catanese, Catanese Classics' director of operations.

Originally operating out of a warehouse in the Flats — now sold to the Metro Parks — Catanese Classics recently relocated to a 42,000-square-foot leased space inside the Greater Cleveland Food Bank on Waterloo Road, expanding its operations to serve not just the food service indus