Meet Melodie Polidori Harris | Chief Sausage Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melodie Polidori Harris and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melodie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
At the heart of our success is staying true to my great‑grandmother Anna’s heirloom recipe and the way she believed sausage should be made — simple, honest, and full of flavor. Nearly 100 years later, we still use the same quality ingredients and uphold the values she built this company on: quality, service, teamwork, ethics, consistency, and price. My brother Steve and I are proud to carry that legacy forward — keeping her traditions alive while striving to make Polidori Sausage a household name, not just in Colorado but across the country. Whether serving foodservice partners or retail customers, we remain committed to providing the same level of personal, excellent service Anna herself would have given.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Polidori Sausage is a fourth-generation, family-owned company that started in my great‑grandmother Anna’s butcher shop in North Denver in 1925. We’ve grown from a small neighborhood business to a brand found in grocery stores, restaurants, and stadiums across Colorado and beyond — but what sets us apart is that we’ve never strayed from her original heirloom recipe or the way she believed sausage should be made: simple, honest, and full of flavor. Our sausages are still clean‑label, made with just pork, salt, and spices — nothing more, nothing less.

It hasn’t always been easy; like any family business, we’ve faced challenges, from market changes to scaling production while maintaining the same handmade quality we’re known for. We overcame those moments by leaning on our culture and incredible team — people who care deeply about the product and the customers we serve.

I’m proud that nearly 100 years later, we still make sausage the way Anna would have wanted, and I’m excited about our goal of making Polidori a household name not just in Colorado, but across the country. I want the world to know our story is about more than sausage — it’s about family, tradition, and doing things the right way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I’d make sure they experience the very best of Colorado — from world‑class dining to iconic outdoor venues, and magical mountain escapes.

We’d start in Denver with brunch at local favorites like Snooze, Le Peep, or The Original Pancake House, then treat ourselves to dinner at Alma Fonda Fina, one of Denver’s Michelin‑starred restaurants in LoHi.

We’d catch a Rockies game at Coors Field, where we would grab a Polidori Sausage at the concession stands — there’s nothing like enjoying a clean‑label sausage (just pork, salt, and spices) with a cold drink and a view of the field.

A night at Red Rocks Amphitheatre would be a must for live music under the stars, and we’d fit in some outdoor fun with a round of golf at one of Denver’s mountain‑view courses or a morning of tennis.

Midweek, we’d head up to Vail for hiking, gondola rides, and great food in the alpine village.

By the end of the week, they’d see why Colorado blends incredible food, outdoor adventure, and local culture like nowhere else — the perfect mix of tradition, fun, and unforgettable views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s hard to give credit to just one person because Polidori’s story is shaped by so many. From the friends and family who have supported us through four generations, to the incredible employees who show up every day with pride in their work, to the customers and partners who have believed in our sausage for nearly a century — every single person who’s touched Polidori has helped get us to where we are today. Our success has truly been a collective effort, and I’m so grateful for everyone who’s been part of this journey.

Website: http://polidorisausage.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polidorisausage/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/polidori-sausage

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polidorisausage

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PolidoriSausage