Bella Roma Foods is a small local business with deep roots in the Guelph community. Bella Roma Foods first appeared on the Guelph food scene in 2010 and was the brainchild of Elisa Baggio, whose father, Tranquillo Baggio, owned and operated Roma Salami, a successful meat manufacturing business for over 50 years in Guelph.

Since 2016, close family friend and former employee, Katherine Sowden, has been the proud owner and operator of Bella Roma Foods. With a passion for food and over 15 years experience in the industry, 5 of which were working for the Baggio family, Katherine continues to carry on the Baggio family’s tradition of food entrepreneurship. With a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, Katherine attended George Brown College for her culinary training.

Katherine’s industry experience includes working in test kitchens developing recipes for many industry partners including several nutritionally driven projects for youth and consulting work as a technical editor and writer for numerous culinary manuals for post secondary and private institutions. Katherine has a deep passion and love for food and believes in not only providing high quality products for customers but also sharing information about the food system and how to be a responsible member of it.

(Photo Credit: Yonge Street Media)