Julie Camardo-Steron focusing on growing Zweigle's

For generations, the smell of Zweigle's hot dogs and sausages on the grill has signaled the start of summer in Rochester.

C. Wilhelm and Josephine Zweigle began producing the summer product in 1880, and today great-great granddaughter Julie Camardo-Steron is president/owner of the company.

But Camardo-Steron wants to stretch Zweigle's appeal beyond the summer months.

"One of my goals is to make sure that we're busy all year round and that we don't just have a flux during the summer months," said the Pittsford resident. "I want to get everybody thinking of Zweigle's throughout all four seasons."

To do so, she has made several changes since becoming president four years ago. Zweigle's has introduced chicken sausage and expanded its private label business, which supplies product for Price Chopper and Wegmans Food Markets' labels, to name two.

Recently introduced, but not yet available in the retail market, is the company's frozen appetizer line, which includes corn dog bites, one-inch skinless Texas hots in a light corn dog batter; pigs in a pastry, small skinless Texas hots wrapped in a puff pastry; and mini taco cups, ground chicken chorizo sausage in a flour tortilla with cheese and salsa.

"We're selling our frozen appetizers to food service places, banquet centers, bars, convention centers and arenas," said Camardo-Steron, 38. "We have to work on labeling and packaging, and once we do that, it will hopefully be a more seamless move into the marketplace, selling in stores."

While she enjoys working every day with about 50 year-round employees, Camardo-Steron said she wasn't always interested in joining the family business.

At one point, she wanted to become a nurse. Then she worked for the staffing industry in Baltimore for four years.

At 26, Camardo-Steron moved back home. She started working for Zweigle's at a pivotal moment, when the family was trying to figure out who would run the company.

"I would say the community of Rochester made me want to stick with this family business. (The community) seems so proud of the Zweigle's connection in Rochester," she said. "I can't imagine there not being a Zweigle's. And if I were to not continue that tradition … I feel like the Rochester community wouldn't be the same. There'd be a void."

Shengulette is a freelance writer covering the Rochester area.