Acclaimed pastry chef and restaurateur, she remains the driving force behind the success and outstanding reputation of the Sarabeth brand. Sarabeth’s personal search for perfection extends to everything she creates. www.sarabeth.com
In 1981, Sarabeth began making Orange-Apricot Marmalade from her home kitchen from a 200 year old family recipe and selling it to local food shops. From that humble beginning, Sarabeth with her husband and business partner, Bill Levine, now own and operate a jam factory, a wholesale-retail bakery café and nine restaurants. It is a true American success story.
Charlie Apt joined Sarabeth’s in June 2011 as President and Chief Operating Officer of SBK Preserves, Inc. dba Sarabeth’s Kitchen, the corporation that manufactures the Sarabeth’s line of jams and other gourmet food products. Charlie is working closely with the owners of Sarabeth’s to help manage brand equity, build consumer awareness and loyalty, and structure the business for aggressive growth and profitability.
William Levine, Chief Executive Officer and Sarabeth Levine, Chairman of the Board, have known Charlie for over 20 years, since teaming up to form a joint venture producing an ice cream line called “Ciao Bella Sarabeth’s”, an extraordinary combination of Sarabeth’s Spreadable Fruits, baked treats and Ciao Bella gelato. At the time, Charlie was owner of Ciao Bella Gelato Company and a fellow member of the NASFT. After receiving acclaim on such shows as Donald Trump’s The Apprentice and Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things, as well as winning over 18 NASFT awards, Ciao Bella was sold to a private equity group in 2008 and Charlie remained onboard through 2011. In Charlie’s opinion,
Sarabeth’s Kitchen makes phenomenal products with a brand legacy that is upheld each and every day by its founders, Sarabeth and Bill Levine. I am proud to be a part of this team and look forward to many years aboard as the brand builds and consumers look to Sarabeth’s for products that are exceptional and unique.
Bruce Stark of Beacon Paint and Hardware