EAST PROVIDENCE — City resident George Sarianides was among the 10 area proprietors recognized as winners of U.S. Small Business Administration 2024 Small Business Week awards, which were presented at its annual “Salute to Small Business” luncheon held May 2 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

Sarianides, owner of Freska Foods located on Commercial Way, was selected as this year's Rhode Island Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

In its recognition notes, Sarianides was described as having "developed a lifelong passion for the food service industry from time spent in his father's restaurant and seafood market." The son of two immigrants from Northern Greece, he inherited his family’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, learning the value of hard work from both his mother and father.

Following his service from the United States Marine Corps, Sarianides implemented those organizational and logistical skills he learned during his active duty days into his food industry enterprise.

In 2019 Sarianides founded Freska Foods, LLC. Freska's use of technology allows customers, ranging from restaurants and butchers, to education and beyond, to have tailor-made ordering experiences, which gives customers access to the freshest, local ingredients, while also have a seamless ordering and fulfillment experience.

Specifically, Freska provides customers with daily deliveries of goods vital to a wide range of operations. Core products include boxed beef, fresh poultry, cheese and dairy, fresh produce, flour, edible oils, frozen foods, single-use items, and custodial supplies. In addition to supplying operators with daily essentials, Freska supports customers with menu engineering, sales analytics, operational streamlining, and in-store marketing. From its base in East Providence, Freska’s services area extends from the Southern New Hampshire border in the north to the Connecticut border in the east, encompassing all of Rhode Island and the majority of Massachusetts.

SBA's notes on Sarianides concluded, "Through his tireless efforts, George has built Freska Foods into the thriving business it is today. His leadership and passion for the business, his employees, his customers, and his community continue to drive him every day and the trajectory of Freska Foods has never looked more positive. George's leadership, hard work, and consistent dedication have helped him get to where he is today and serve as an excellent model for other similarly-minded entrepreneurs."