We just received the below email in support of an email we posted nearly two weeks ago regarding an ongoing war of words between Original Juan and the Cafe Tequila company. Read for yourself:

To the Specialty Food Community:

We want you all to know that our experience and extensive business relationship with Original Juan Specialty Foods has been outstanding! We sold our brand, Bilardo Brothers, which we built over eight years of blood, sweat and tears, to Original Juan in 2000. We originally approached OJ to look at our brand as a result of a very successful co-packing relationship built over several years. During our co-packing relationship, we had been continually impressed with the honesty, integrity, and uncompromising quality that OJ brought to every aspect of their business, from co-packing to warehousing to marketing to shipping. With the hindsight of the past six years, this decision to sell our brand to OJ was simply the best one we ever made in running Bilardo Brothers Food Specialties, Inc.

Original Juan negotiated openly and honestly with us in developing our licensing agreement. Once signed, OJ honored both the letter and spirit of the agreement, making every required payment on time and continuing to consult with us on the further marketing and growth of the Bilardo Brothers brand. As a result of this highly successful business relationship, OJ was the first supplier we contacted when we decided to set up a retail specialty food store in the Cleveland, Ohio area this past spring. OJ is now our primary supplier, providing almost 1/3 of the inventory in our new store, Bay Fine Foods. We look forward to a long and mutually fulfilling business relationship with Original Juan for years to come.

Feel free to contact us via email if you have any questions.

Heidi & Vince Bilardo Jr
Bay Fine Foods Ltd.