WASHINGTON (BBN) – The founders of North Andover, MA-based Kettlepizza — George A. Peters, Jr. and Al Contarino — never imagined in a million years they would be bagging the world’s ultimate VIP customer by participating at the 3rd Annual Made in America Product Showcase hosted by President Donald J. Trump at the White House.
[Kettlepizza co-Founders Al Contarino and George A. Peters, Jr. speak to Capitol Intelligence/BBN using CI Glass before speaking with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross at 3rd Annual Made in America summit at the White House . July 15, 2019.]
KettlePizza inserts, turns charcoal kettle style grills like Weber and gas grills into pizza ovens. Makes a pizza almost equal to an old country Neapolitan wood furnace, Italian-American co-founder and President Al Contarino said.
“Not only did we participate but President Trump came over to us and said he loved the custom Gas Pro and wanted one for the White House,” Peters said. “The White House staff came over to see how it works. Never did I expect to have the President as a fan and a KettlePizza oven kit on the South Lawn of the White House.”
The circa USD 2m a year Kettlepizza also attracted the interest of US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross who made his billions by turning around major US automotive, steel and coal groups.
Only in America where a USD 2m business is put on the same footing as defense giant Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) whose Chairman and CEO, Marillyn Adams Hewson, showcased a giant land-to-air missile and delivery system on the South Lawn.
Kettlepizza was not the only Made in America company to make waves at the product showcase at the White House.
Buck Knives, the fourth generation family owned business based in Post Falls, Idaho, may have been only person to bring potentially fatal weapons to White House since Elvis Presley gifted a loaded revolver to President Richard Nixon in Oval Office.
[Buck Knives of Idaho CEO CJ Buck speaks to Capitol Intelligence/BBN using CI Glass during President Donald Trump 3rd Annual Made In America summit in East Room of the White House. July 16, 2019]
During the Made In America product showcase, President Trump signed an executive order to gradually raise federal Buy America content provisions to 75% from 50% and 95% on steel products.
Peters said that Kettlepizza is already a global business, with its product range translated in seven languages and a distributor in the financial capital of Italy, Milan.
Investment banking sources have told Capitol Intelligence that Kettlepizza founders Mr. Peters and Mr. Contarino should be expecting a phone call from Bryon Trott, the billionaire owner of Weber Grills through his Chicago-based BDT Capital Partners merchant bank and PE firm.
By PK Semler in Washington, DC
For more information please call +1-202-549-3399 or email pks@capitolintelgroup.com
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