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When you see our yellow V. Marchese trucks rolling down the highway, or when you crack open a jar of Kallas Honey in your own kitchen, you’re looking at nearly a century of Milwaukee food history.
At V. Marchese, we are incredibly picky about the vendors we partner with. When a product enters our 80,000-square-foot facility, it must be more than just high-quality; it must stand for something. That is exactly why we love working with Kallas Honey Farm.
We aren’t just business partners; we are two companies cut from the exact same cloth.
Two Paths, One Shared Story
The stories of V. Marchese and Kallas Honey read like mirror images of the American Dream, right here in Southeast Wisconsin. Both companies started with one passionate person and a simple commitment to serving their neighbors:
- V. Marchese started back in 1934, when Vito Marchese began delivering fresh fruits and vegetables around Milwaukee out of a single, hand-painted truck.
- Kallas Honey got its start a few years later in 1941. John Kallas built an apiary operation that he ran alongside his son, Jim, eventually growing it to over 1,000 hives running up and down Lake Michigan. Their original honey farm was right on the Milwaukee River in Glendale.
Keeping it Family-Owned (For Real)
Let’s be honest: in an era dominated by corporate buyouts, staying independent is rare. But both of our companies have managed to do just that, keeping things local and multi-generational.
Today, V. Marchese is run by Vito’s grandson, Jack Marchese. Meanwhile, Kallas Honey has spent 85 years perfecting the art of the honey trade. In the 1970s, brothers Peter and Perry shifted the company’s focus from active beekeeping to sourcing, marketing, and distributing pure USA honey. Today, Peter and his son, Jon, are actively running the business as it transitions to its fourth generation of family ownership.
That kind of deep commitment matters, and people notice. Kallas was recently honored with the Glendale Legacy Business Award and received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for their service to the community.
Uncompromising, 100% Natural Quality
Just like we maintain strict food safety standards at Marchese, Kallas refuses to cut corners to save a buck. They partner directly with American beekeepers to handpick honey crops, thereby supporting domestic pollination and US agriculture.
Every single drop of Kallas honey is unfiltered, uncooked, and 100% natural. Because they care so much about real flavor, they’ve also expanded their family-recipe lineup over the years to include premium items like their zesty gourmet honey mustard, pure Wisconsin maple syrup, maple sugar, and prepared horseradish.
How Wisconsin Chefs Are Using Honey This Summer
As the summer dining rush kicks into high gear, local chefs are putting this liquid gold to work all across their menus. Honey is a summer essential because it blends beautifully into cold drinks, cuts through rich grilled meats, and perfectly balances spicy flavors.
Behind the Bar & Beverage Station
- The Ultimate Sweetener: Craft beverage programs are swapping out plain sugar for honey simple syrup to sweeten cocktails, house-made lemonades, and iced teas.
- Coffee Crafting: Baristas are using honey to bring complex, floral depth to cold brews and summer lattes.
Savory Sauces, Glazes, and Marinades
- From the Grill: Chefs are brushing sweet, tangy honey mustard glaze over grilled chicken, tender pork, and fresh Atlantic salmon.
- Cookout Classics: Pitmasters blend honey into signature BBQ sauces for backyard-style summer menus.
- Sweet Heat: A glossy honey-Sriracha drizzle provides the perfect sweet-and-spicy kick for wings and apps.
- Vibrant Dressings: Honey is the ultimate natural emulsifier, making it the perfect base for honey-balsamic dressings and bright lemon-herb vinaigrettes.
- Deep Marinades: Kitchens are prepping proteins with savory-sweet mixtures like honey-garlic, honey-soy for Asian dishes, and bright honey-citrus blends for seafood.
Table Service and Shareables
- Bread Baskets: Whipped honey butter is an instant crowd-pleaser when served alongside warm, flaky biscuits or cornbread.
- Charcuterie Accents: Local honey is a star player on cheese boards, pairing beautifully with sharp Wisconsin cheeses and cured meats.
- Finishing Drizzles: A light drizzle of honey over wood-fired flatbreads and pizzas brings out the savory, salty notes of artisan toppings.
Stock Up for the Summer Rush
When a busy kitchen enters the peak summer rush, running out of a staple ingredient is a nightmare. To help high-volume kitchens stay ahead, V. Marchese offers Kallas Honey in convenient, bulk sizes.
Whether you need bulk honey for high-volume marinades, their famous horseradish, or beautiful honeycomb for your next catering event, we have the volume you need to keep your line efficient and your food costs in check.