Provisioner logo
Provisioner logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Provisioner logo
Provisioner logo
  • NEWS
    • Industry News
    • Supplier News
    • Case Studies
    • Recalls
    • Regulations
    • New Consumer Products
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Newsletters
    • Source Book
    • Sponsored Insights
    • Events
    • Webinars
    • Classifieds
    • White Papers
    • Provisioner Store
    • Market Research
  • MEAT PROCESSING
    • SUSTAINABILITY
    • Processing
    • Packaging
    • Ingredients
    • Formulation
    • Food Safety
    • Special Reports
    • Commentary
  • PROFILES
    • Processor Profiles
    • Processor of the Year
    • Top 100 Processors
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
  • DIRECTORY
  • MIHOF
  • INDEPENDENT PROCESSOR
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • JOIN!

Rastelli Global has driven plenty of growth for Rastelli Foods Group

July 2, 2018

Ray Rastelli Jr. discusses the strategies and successes of Rastelli Global, including the opening of a new facility in Dubai.

Hanacek: Ray, thanks again for having me out, thanks for joining me, doing a couple of these Q and As, I appreciate it. Congratulations again on Processor of the Year. 

Going back to a couple of years ago when I was out here for coverage story again, we talked about Rastelli Global and that's a pretty significant part of your business over all, not necessarily the focus of this story, but talk a little bit about what's new on the Rastelli Global side, how growth has gone there. What are some of the success stories you've had over in that end of the business and what's new on the Rastelli Global side.

Rastelli: Sure, the Rastelli Global side continues to grow, much like our domestic business which is expanded from food service to retail e-commerce. Global International has fit pretty much the same bill, what was at one time primarily an operation that serviced the military has expanded now into food service dramatically with about 60 different food service chains that we're working with in that region.

What's really been interesting in the past year and a half, we've actually developed our own processing center. So we do have a processing facility in Dubai, though smaller than we have here in the States, it's actually able to service our food service customer in much more speedy way.

That has now rolled into a retail package as well, our retail product line is expanding into the middle Eastern and northern African countries and within the next two months we'll be opening up our second small production facility in Saudi Arabia.

It's really given us the opportunity to service that marketplace in a much speedier effort and bringing American product to those marketplaces the way they should be.

Hanacek: How does that work? Are you shipping over primal, sub-primals and they're cutting them there? Or how does that logistics [crosstalk 00:01:53].

Rastelli: Yes, so we're shipping over our Pure Land America organic product, our Angus product and even our Wagyu product. We'll ship that product in, by the time it gets there it's go anywhere between 25 and 35 days age on it, so it's perfect for cutting. It hits the room, we've got our automatic slices, similar lines we've got here set up. We're cutting the product, packaging it, getting out to the food service industry and now the retailers.

Some of the largest retailers all throughout Europe are adopting our program and we're really excited about that.

Hanacek: What do you find to be the most popular item or line or items out there among the food service? 'Cause those outlets are not, theoretically, serving Americans, like the military [inaudible 00:02:37] or business, right? 

Rastelli: What they are serving is they're serving a lot of expats, that particular region's got folks from all over the world and they're indulging. They want a very high quality product so our elite Angus program fits really there. Our Prime program and our Waygu program, so on the food service side that's really where we see the growth.

That particular region loves American products, so on the retail side, we're seeing it much more on the everyday type product. Inside our production facilities they're also cook facilities. Things like cooked chicken tenders, and cooked chicken wings, we've expanded into a cooked line there as well. That's more on the retail side but the indulgence on the food service side really is on that upper scale product line.

Hanacek: Anything coming up with Rastelli Global that you can let me know without giving away the deepest, darkest secrets, what's on the horizon for Rastelli Global?

Rastelli: One of the thing that I think is really exciting for us, we just signed a contract with T.G.I.Friday's for that entire middle Eastern region and we will be, not just providing product to their store, but also, and more importantly, providing the product into the retailer. So that T.G.I.Friday brand that will be brought and seen in the supermarkets throughout the entire region will be manufactured by Rastelli inside that entire region.

Hanacek: Very cool. Cool. Well thanks again so much for the update there and, again, congrats on Process of the Year.

Rastelli: Thank you, I appreciate your time.


Check out these other video Q&As with The National Provisioner's Editor-in-Chief, Andy Hanacek, and Ray Rastelli III and Ray Rastelli Jr.

  • Q&A update on Rastelli Market Fresh concept and growth
    Watch Video
  • Rastelli Global has driven plenty of growth for Rastelli Foods Group
    Watch Video
KEYWORDS: Rastelli Foods

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • A cow eating grass and a chicken standing next to it in a field.

    The Top 100 Meat & Poultry Processors of 2026

    The 2026 Top 100 Meat & Poultry Processors highlights...
    Meat and Poultry Industry News
    By: Fred Wilkinson
  • Breaded chicken nuggets on a white plate.

    Food safety programs prioritize prevention, verification, and traceability

    Across processing operations, food safety strategies are...
    Meat and Poultry Industry News
    By: Sammy Bredar
  • An open double cheeseburger on a white plate, the top bun beside it, along with a side of seasoned fries.

    How convenience is driving summer grilling innovation in 2026

    Demand for high-quality, convenience-driven formats...
    Meat and Poultry Industry News
    By: Sammy Bredar
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Connect with The National Provisioner

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The National Provisioner audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The National Provisioner or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  •  two individuals standing by a farm gate
    Sponsored byPIC

    When PRRS Hits Home: The Chinn Family’s Story and a Hopeful Future

  • A smiling man carrying a grocery basket is reaching down to pick up a package of meat in a grocery store.
    Sponsored byPIC

    The Green Light: New Data Shows 12-to-1 Support for Pork from PRRS-Resistant Pigs

  • Close up of a grocery cart full of groceries, a cropped image of a couple pushing the cart and a blurred background of the vegetable aisle.
    Sponsored byPIC

    New Market Research Finds Consumers in Eight Key Pork Markets Are Likely to Purchase Pork from Gene-Edited Pigs

Popular Stories

JBS USA logo

JBS USA closing pair of processing facilities

Kroger logo

Kroger to acquire Giant Eagle for $1.65B

Justin Ransom interview

USDA's Justin Ransom discusses the Small Processors Action Plan

2026 Top 100 Meat & Poultry Processors Report

Events

July 16, 2026

Strengthening Food Safety Plans for Modern Processing Operations

The live webinar will explore the latest technologies, emerging risks, and practical strategies shaping food safety programs across meat and poultry processing operations. Attendees will hear from industry experts on key challenges impacting processors today, along with approaches for strengthening and updating food safety plans across their facilities.

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Food Crime: An Introduction to Deviance in the Food Industry

Food Crime: An Introduction to Deviance in the Food Industry

See More Products
The National Provisioner 2026 Food Safety Report

Related Articles

  • Ray Rastelli Jr.

    Ray Rastelli Jr. explains "Lunch with the President" at Rastelli Foods Group

    See More
  • Rastelli Foods Group breaks new ground on plant expansion

    See More
  • Ray Rastelli Jr., Ray Rastelli III and Brittany Rastelli

    2018 Processor of the Year: Rastelli Foods Group

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • Microbiology of Thermally Preserved Foods: Canning and Novel Physical Methods

See More Products

Related Directories

  • International Assn. for Food Protection

    The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) represents a broad range of members with a singular focus — protecting the global food supply. Within the association, you will find educators, government officials, microbiologists, food industry executives and quality control professionals who are involved in all aspects of growing, storing, transporting, processing and preparing all types of foods.
×

Stay ahead of the curve. Unlock a dose of cutting-edge insights.

Receive our premium content directly to your inbox.

SIGN-UP TODAY
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing