Our History

Celebrating 100 Years: A Legacy That Spans Six Generations

1895

Gaetano Darigo works as a commercial fisherman in the Strait of Messina, Sicily, prior to immigrating to Philadelphia that year.

1919

Fellow Sicilian, Giuseppe Ippolito, immigrates to America with a pushcart and a dream. He marries Conchetta Darigo, Gaetano’s daughter, planting the seeds of a family seafood tradition.

1926

Giuseppe partners with his father-in-law, expanding seafood operations with horse-drawn wagons across Philadelphia.

1945

Giuseppe opens his first seafood market, Ippolito’s, in South Philadelphia. That same year, his daughter, Rose Ippolito, marries Sam D’Angelo, who joins the family business.

1950-1965

Rose transforms the storefront into a thriving, family-run operation. Sam D’Angelo Jr. is born.

1966-1974

Sam Jr. joins the family business, modernizing Ippolito’s and leading a new era of growth.

1989

A second Ippolito’s store opens, and Samuels Seafood Co. launches, expanding into wholesale and distribution.

1990s–2000s

Expansion continues in N.Y.C. and Washington, D.C. Products from the Gulf and Pacific are imported via airfreight. Processing and freezer facilities are upgraded for peak quality.

2004

The fifth generation joins as Anthony, Sammy, Lauren, and Donna D’Angelo take roles in Sales and Purchasing.

2006-2009

Samuels expands to Western PA and OH, and opens a 60,000 sq. ft. facility on South Philadelphia’s Pattison Avenue, strengthening operations.

2010–2020

Branches open in Las Vegas, NV, Orlando, and Miami, FL, serving cruise lines, chefs, and retailers nationwide.

2025

Always at the forefront of technology, Samuels invests in advanced Ozone and Water-Chilling systems. Ippolito’s Seafood Co. reopens, reestablishing its South Philadelphia roots 100 years after its founding.

2026 & Beyond

With over a century of tradition and a spirit of innovation, Samuels Seafood Co. continues to grow and chart new waters.

“At Samuels Seafood Co., we’ve built a 100-year tradition bringing superb seafood to market. I would like to personally welcome you to the next hundred years”

– Sam D’Angelo, Owner