A Century of Safie
By Nicholas Drabant
In 1929, at the start of the Great Depression, Dmitri Safi e — looking for a way to make ends meet — began pickling the produce that he grew on his farm in Chesterfi eld. Almost 100 years and two full generations later, Dmitri’s granddaughter, Mary Safi e, now runs Safi e Foods. She rebooted the brand in 1994 — in the very kitchen her grandfather started his business in, no less.
The family part of family business has remained paramount at Safi e Foods. “We are a family-owned, woman-operated, third-generation business. I am still in the same community that my grandfather started in a hundred years ago,” explained Mary Safie while sitting with a sample platter of her favorite sweet pickled beets on the table. Even if Dmitri’s farm was gone, the spirit of their grandfather remained. Though he died when Mary was only three, she grew up inspired by the sheer scale of who he was: “He was a very mild-mannered gentleman. Very ethical. He took care of his family, took care of people. When they needed something he was there. He was just caring and loving.”
When asked what allowed the company to last for almost a century, she explained that their high standard of quality plays a key role: “To keep your ethics and your morals is very important. Really what put us on the map, I think, is just the love that goes into the product – from the workers, all of our employees, all the way through. It takes all of us.” The Safie brand is certified by the international Safe Quality Food (SQF) Institute, and each and every one of their vendors shares that high standard.
Safie products include gourmet pickled products, all made from farm-fresh Michigan vegetables, including beets, beans, pickles, asparagus, carrots, banana peppers, and okra. You can find Safie pickled products at most local food stores and you can order them online to be delivered to your home.
Beyond keeping standards of quality high, Mary also cited seizing each and every opportunity that came their way over the years — and advised that other companies do the same: “We work with our staff and give them certification training, and I work with the Macomb County Economic Development Group, Macomb Community College, and Michigan Works. I believe every county in the state and throughout the country operates on this level. They’re there to help entrepreneurs grow,” Safie said.
Would Mary’s grandfather be proud of what she had built here? With a wide, wistful smile, Mary said yes. “He’d be smiling, because it came back full circle. You know, it’s not like the American corporation. To me, it’s the American Dream that’s come true.”
For more visit safiefoods.com
