Bergen County foodies can skip the flight to Rome this season. Italian charcuterie brand Principe has officially chosen northern New Jersey for the stateside debut of its “Prosciutteria” pop-up experience, aiming to bring authentic European culinary traditions directly to local consumers.
The interactive, counter-service tasting concept launched Tuesday at the ShopRite located on Route 17 and Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey. Designed to mimic a traditional, old-world Italian salumeria—complete with artisanal displays and freshly sliced specialty meats—the temporary installment will remain open to the public for a six-month residency.
To deliver a fully immersive culinary experience, Principe formed an exclusive operational partnership with Di Marco, the company credited with inventing modern Pinsa Romana dough.
Instead of traditional sandwich bread or baguettes, all menu items at the Ramsey pop-up are served inside warm, baked Di Marco Pinsa pockets. Pinsa is a lighter, highly airy alternative to standard pizza dough, crafted from a specialized blend of flours that creates a crisp exterior and a tender, cloud-like interior.
“The Prosciutteria is about more than great ingredients—it’s about creating a moment that feels distinctly Italian,” Laura Rincon, senior director of Category Management at JBS USA, the parent distributor of the brand said. “We’re bringing together authentic flavors, trusted partners, and a simple, thoughtful approach to food that invites people to slow down and enjoy it.”
The temporary shop is rolling out a rotating slate of hot and cold sandwiches highlighting premium imported charcuterie pairings, ranging from classic regional staples to bold, contemporary flavor profiles:
- The Deliziosa: The brand’s signature offering, layering thin ribbons of premium Prosciutto di San Daniele with creamy burrata cheese, fresh arugula, tomatoes, and a rich balsamic glaze drizzle.
- The Piccantina: A sweet-and-spicy modern alternative featuring layers of authentic dry-cured soppressata, stracciatella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and a heavy drizzle of chili pepper hot honey.
- The Mortadella Pesto: Classic Italian mortadella paired with a rich basil pesto spread and thick slices of fresh mozzarella.
- The Truffle Coppa: Earthy, air-dried coppa paired with an upscale truffle-infused burrata and a savory wild mushroom spread.
The Bergen County launch serves as a high-visibility testing ground for both international brands. If the six-month pilot program proves successful with North Jersey’s dense population of Italian-food enthusiasts, corporate leadership plans to scale the grocery-embedded pop-up model into other major metropolitan markets across the United States.
“We are absolutely thrilled we can delight customers with our Pinsa Sandwich, which pairs perfectly with the exceptional quality of Principe cured meats,” Lorenzo Tedeschi, Di Marco’s USA Country manager said. “We can’t wait to expand the partnership across the United States.”
