Slicing through peak season: Northside Fine Foods on delivering festive entertaining at scale

Australian festive entertaining is built on gathering around the table with great food and even better company. From its beginnings in 1993 as a specialty Italian importer, family-owned Northside Fine Foods has grown into a cornerstone of the Australian Deli aisle.

Based in Strathfield South, New South Wales, the business has spent the last 16 years building a close and collaborative partnership with Woolworths. At the heart of this relationship is a shared commitment to quality and accessibility, bringing artisan smallgoods, gourmet cheeses, and antipasto to supermarket shelves across Australia. 

Reflecting on the partnership, Northside’s General Manager, Michael Dicembre says:
“Starting 16 years ago with Woolworths, the goal back then and the goal today has stayed true: offer Australian families premium smallgoods to enjoy with family and friends. Listening to what customers want, introducing exciting new products and always looking for ways to make entertaining easier and more enjoyable. What’s made the partnership so successful is that we both care for the customer through the quality and varieties we offer.”

Making festive entertaining easier 

During the busy festive season, deli meats and charcuterie act as total heroes for host families looking to celebrate without stress. Northside’s San Marino and MonDeli ranges are designed to make preparation easier while delivering an authentic artisan experience on the platter. 

“The festive season is all about spending time with the people, not being stuck in the kitchen,” Michael explains. “Whether you’re having a few friends over for drinks or hosting the whole family on Christmas Day, there’s something for everyone. From beautiful Prosciutto and Salami through to our perfectly Smoked Ham, shoppers can mix and match to create a board that looks amazing and tastes even better. To make it even easier we have multi pack selections that take the guess work out of what to pick. Simply open, present on a wooden board and serve.”

Crucially, in a market where customers are increasingly seeking affordable luxury, ranges like Thomas Dux bridge the gap between high-end gourmet craftsmanship and everyday value. 

As Michael highlights:

 “We know people still want to spoil their family and friends, but they’re also keeping an eye on the budget. That’s where Thomas Dux really hits the sweet spot. We work closely with Woolworths to make premium products available on shelves, so everyone can enjoy those little indulgences that make entertaining feel extra special.”

Bringing restaurant-quality flavours home

“Our entertaining range, anchored by long standing brands that customers love like San Marino, is an excellent point of difference for us as a business during Entertaining events.”

Delivering Christmas at scale

Behind the displays customers see in store is a significant operation, particularly as Christmas approaches. Meeting the surge in festive demand requires careful planning, precision logistics and a supply chain capable of scaling quickly while maintaining quality.

“Entertaining is definitely our busiest time of year, and the numbers are pretty incredible,” Michael reveals. “Every year we expertly slice and deliver 400 tonnes of premium Imported and Local Prosciutto for Woolworths customers across Australia.”

Maintaining pristine quality across this massive volume requires a relentless focus on freshness and agile manufacturing processes.

“One of Northside’s company values is to provide the freshest stock to the Woolworths customer. Being a family business, we are able to be nimble when needed for quick uplifts but also plan for the busy festive season. Even though volumes increase dramatically, quality never changes. Every pack is prepared with the same care and attention because we know it’s going to be part of someone’s family celebration. That’s a responsibility we take very seriously.”

And if you ask Justin, this is only the beginning; “Our strong partnership with Northside Fine Foods continues to evolve as our customers continue to seek new and trending products for entertaining and cooking.”

Looking ahead, Northside continues to innovate alongside Woolworths, working on convenient entertaining solutions and new flavor profiles that make celebrating effortless. Yet, amidst the rapid growth, the heart of the business remains grounded in simple human connection. 

“Don’t overthink Entertaining. Some of the best moments happen when everyone gathers around a simple platter, shares a meal and enjoys each other’s company.”