Last updated on July 28th, 2024
Being a part of the community is one of the core missions at Cosentino’s. From schools and sports teams to town holiday events, the Cosentino Charity Foundation helps support many groups and causes. The company also is a key supporter of local businesses, featuring many of their products in-store.
As most philanthropic groups tend to be, Cosentino’s doesn’t typically toot its own horn when it comes to giving back to communities in Kansas and Missouri. In describing the company’s approach to helping communities, the words “silent but powerful” come to mind.
Enterprise President Don Cosentino, a second-generation family member, calls the outreach efforts “one of those separating points for us in those communities that we operate.”
Cosentino’s annual golf tournament is its single largest fundraiser. Held every July, proceeds from the event help support local organizations and foundations.
Through partnerships with Make-A-Wish Foundation, Big Brother & Big Sisters, Harvesters regional food bank, multiple different local high schools, churches, food pantries and KC Pet Project, Cosentino’s keeps assistance in the communities that support its business.
“Giving back is a big part of what we need to do, what we should do and what we want to do,” said Group EVP John Cosentino, also a member of the family’s second generation.
Supporting those in need has been a long-standing tradition with the Cosentino family. About a year before the death of John’s father, Dante, the two watched a TV news report on how local food banks were empty.
“Without hesitation, my dad instructed me to put together two truckloads of food and take it to the food bank. That’s the kind of guy he was,” John said. “He had a huge heart, and his passion for taking care of the people around him and the communities we work in has been passed on to us.”
Cosentino’s, The Shelby Report of the Midwest’s 2024 Retailer of the Year, has many long relationships with local farmers, particularly those offering seasonal produce, dairy and meat.
“Summer brings much-anticipated melons from Hall Farms, corn, tomatoes and squash from multiple other local growers,” said Chad Weinzerl, director of marketing and customer engagement.
“With an active presence in the community, we try to keep up with local entrepreneurs who are chasing their dreams and provide the outlet needed to achieve them. Word of mouth, an active presence and a team that is constantly researching and chasing new products means we are always building relationships with local producers.”
[RELATED: Generations Strong, Cosentino’s Food Stores Building Success On Old-Time Values]
This year brings a new partnership with local cattle farmers at Bristol Farms Angus Beef Company, a collective endeavor of seven family farms.
“Born and raised within 50 miles of Kansas City, their beef is always fresh, never frozen and free from added hormones or preservatives, providing the highest quality product for our customers,” Weinzerl said.
Getting product to the shelf, he added, is one of many steps in building a successful relationship. “Competitive pricing, demos and in-stock standards are what cultivates long-term success for our local entrepreneurs.”
Weinzerl continued by noting that the company understands the value of strong local partnerships.
“Many of our customers, including local brokerage companies, have played a key role in our success over the years,” he said. “We’ve built a reputation for being a local, family-owned business that’s open to hearing about new products. We actively seek opportunities to support our local partners and help them achieve their goals within the community.”
Local partnerships and collaborations with their wholesaler are just two of the reasons why Cosentino’s has remained a strong independent retailer over the years, according to Group President David Cosentino, John’s brother.
“We’ve got to credit Associated Wholesale Grocers for their support along with our vendors, many of whom we’ve known for years,” he said. “During this time, we have worked in tandem to come up with strategies we can execute. We’ve both worked hard to develop integrity on each end, which has made us good partners throughout the years.”
