Marotta IEWD isn’t just a business name. It’s a tribute to my late father, Angelo Marotta—a name that runs deep in our family history.

My father came to Michigan from Sicily, chasing the American dream. He worked long hours delivering bread for Tringali Bakery, doing a tough 5am to 5pm shift every day. After my parents divorced, he raised me and my younger brother, Angelo, on his own. We were just kids—me at 11, my brother at 8—often home alone while our dad worked to keep food on the table.

When my father lost his job at the bakery, he didn’t give up. Instead, he reinvented himself, using his experience in bread and bakery work. In the early 1990s, it was rare to find fresh, authentic European-style bread in Michigan supermarkets. My father started buying special breads from local bakeries and reselling them to supermarkets. The bread was delicious and unique—customers loved it, and the business grew fast.

That’s when Marotta Distribution was born. I learned the trade from my father, working alongside him and helping the company grow.

Everything changed when my father became ill with cancer. He wanted to spend his final years back in Sicily, surrounded by our large family. As his health declined, I was forced to leave Michigan and return to Italy with him, to help care for him and be by his side.

During this time, my younger brother Angelo took on the heavy responsibility of running Marotta Distribution alone in Michigan. He worked and lived there by himself for many years, facing challenges most people can’t imagine. Through tough times and good, he kept the company alive. Thanks to his leadership, Marotta Distribution survived and thrived—even after 35 years, the company is still going strong.

When our father passed, my brother’s dedication ensured our family’s legacy lived on, and he made sure both our father and I were financially secure in Italy.

In Sicily, there are many Angelos in the Marotta family, so everyone called my father “Signore Marotta” (Mr. Marotta) to show respect. He was the oldest Marotta—the one who united everyone for Sunday dinners. He earned that title, and we’re proud to keep his name at the front of our business.

IEWD means Importer, Exporter, Wholesale, Distributor—everything my father was. He was a man of vision, a deal-maker, and someone who wasn’t afraid to get in the truck and do the hard work himself.

Sicilian Thing is more than just a brand. It’s our way of sharing the culture, traditions, and flavors of Sicily with Michigan and beyond. When you see Sicilian Thing, you know you’re getting a taste of real Sicily, brought to you by a family that values quality, tradition, and community.