Al Fargnoli, owner of Sweeney’s Market in Apalachin, is pictured next to the meat section that features certified Angus beef. (Photos by Heather Gunther)
Pictured is the smoked meat section at Sweeney’s Market in Apalachin.
At Sweeney’s Market in Apalachin, a wide variety of foods are offered.
Just in time for the holiday season, Sweeney’s Market, located at 6518 Rte. 434 in Apalachin, N.Y., a locally owned and operated super market and a part of the local community for decades is introducing a new product line, certified Angus beef.
Certified Angus beef, considered the premier line of beef, is an exciting addition for Sweeney’s Market. Grocery stores must qualify to carry the line, and Sweeney’s is now one of only two sellers in our immediate area.
Considered high-end product, certified Angus beef is described as the first-class of beef, and must pass ten different quality categories to meet the strict criteria. “One Angus out of 50 passes this test,” explained Sweeney’s Market owner Al Fargnoli.
With first-rate tenderness, certified Angus beef “reduces the odds of tough steaks,” Fargnoli shared, and he added, “When customers purchase certified Angus beef, the satisfaction rate is 100 percent.”
Sweeney’s Market, well known in the area for specializing in a wide selection of meat products, takes pride in their meat department. Experienced butchers are on-hand to custom cut orders by individual customer needs. From sausage to chicken, pork chops to franks, nearly every steak option, among others, Sweeney’s is like an old-fashioned butcher shop in today’s world. All meats are cut right on the premises with no solutions added.
Another benefit to their quality products and processing, Sweeney’s added a smokehouse in October 2013, where they make kielbasa, multiple varieties of franks, and many other favorites.
Sweeney’s Market offers bundle meat deals to help customers save money and another one of their popular items, homemade spiedies, are undeniably on the spiedie leader board. In Sweeney’s deli section, customers will find Boar’s Head cold cuts, one of the premier lines of delicatessen products. A list of Sweeney’s meat specials, bundle deals and weekly store specials can be found on their web site at www.sweeneysmarket.com.
Sweeney’s Market belongs to the Olean Wholesale Grocery Cooperative located in Olean, N.Y. Founded in 1922, the co-op provides retailers, like Sweeney’s, with a complete line of merchandise and grocery products. In turn, the co-op gives the retailer more buying power, and ultimately a substantial savings to the customer.
With the Shurfine private label, Sweeney’s is able to offer customers hundreds of quality products; “The Shurfine label means more for your table.”
When you call the Sweeney’s Market main store number, you won’t find Mr. or Mrs. Sweeney there, although Al Fargnoli jokes that he occasionally gets those phone calls.
Fargnoli’s parents, Al and Joanne Fargnoli, purchased Sweeney’s Market in 1966 when it was located on Main Street in Apalachin, a building that once housed the Post Office. In February 1985, a fire destroyed the building, but within the same year, Sweeney’s was rebuilt at its current location on Route 434.
The Fargnoli’s retired from the store part of the business in 1996 after about 30 years, but still keep active with their cattle business.
And as for the name Sweeney’s, it’s actually the nickname of the former storeowner.
To learn more about Sweeney’s products and specials, visit their web site at www.sweeneysmarket.com. For other questions or information, call (607) 625-3341.
