Sambrailo Packaging Celebrates 100 Year Milestone

Sometimes we take things for granted to the point that we don’t really see them. 

That theme applies in several ways with game-changing Sambrailo Packaging. 

This year Sambrailo is celebrating 100 years—yes, a full century, all based in Watsonville—of supporting the produce industry.

For one, Sambrailo’s production of produce boxes, trays, baskets, clamshells, customized labeling and all sorts of other clever vehicles for fruits and vegetables has been so steady and reliable for so long that partners assume excellence, and shoppers don’t notice they’re there.

On top of that, growers have counted on the family for so long that they simply take their support as a given.

You could almost say Sambrailo Packaging is under-appreciated—if it wasn’t so appreciated by area farmers. 

Javier Zamora, owner of JSM Organics in Prunedale, ranks among them. His relationship with Sambrailo stretches a decade to date. Within that time he helped pioneer ReadyCycle®, Sambrailo’s breakthrough container that’s plastic-free, recyclable and biodegradable.

“They’re really good people and have a really good sense of community,” he says. “They go beyond normal business and sales—their business is based on relationships, not money.”

Sambrailo’s level of collaboration with partner-growers might be invisible to the ultimate end consumers, but it isn’t taken for granted by people like Emmett Linder. 

He serves as Driscoll’s director of mission engagement, and for decades worked closely with Sambrailo as he oversaw the berry giant’s increasingly complex supply chain. 

Linder credits Sambrailo with making another packaging innovation possible—the first ever branding of berries, another little something many take for granted—but finds a different quality more central to their success.

“You have something you need, they’re Johnny-on-the-spot,” Linder says. “Whether you need to build something new or try something that’s worked for others, they’re ready and willing to help out.”

Third-generation President and CEO Mark Sambrailo, who started in the family business at 14, credits his dad with instilling the priorities that make that possible. (His jobs since his youthful start have included sweeping floors, cleaning bathrooms, running the graveyard shift, forklift operating, purchasing and truck driving.)

“Treat people like you’d like to be treated,” he says. “That was—and is—a big part of our culture.”

As competing companies have gradually consolidated, their service levels have eroded. Not so with Sambrailo.

“They’ve been service-oriented from day one and they still are,” Linder says. 

Key priority number two, innovation, has become the company’s signature, exemplified by the introduction of things like the revolutionary clamshell container that quickly became an industry standard.

“One of my dad’s favorite sayings was, ‘You adapt or you die,’” Mark says. “This company has seen a lot of changes.”

Another priority: work ethic. To this day, in every room of Sambrailo’s headquarters, hangs a piece of wood from the old Croatian-style apple packing shed where the family business started in 1923. 

Sambrailo personally disassembled the shed with help from an employee. “When you get a little cocky, you can look at the wall and remember your history,” he says. “That’s another thing dad taught us: Roots are important.”

Of course, Sambrailo’s history goes well beyond his dad, and Mark can recite much of it. 

His great grandfather moved to Angels Camp from his native Croatia to be a gold miner in 1887. Eventually he and his young family made their way to Watsonville, which was then apple country, and in 1923 started a produce packaging and insurance business at age 22. 

The two parts of the endeavor were divided in 1924 and the other half, Scurich Insurance Services, thrives locally to this day, while the two families remain close.

Sambrailo goes on to mention other priorities, including credibility and accountability. 

“That was huge for dad and grandpa,” he says. “That’s been passed down. If you messed up, just say it. And do better next time. It’s about putting everything on the table.”

Ultimately, though, he settles on a singular element that makes Sambrailo success over an entire century possible: a team that includes the fourth generation, his daughter Kiersten Sambrailo Clontz (lead account executive) and son Erik Sambrailo (senior manager of innovation).

“Employees are the biggest key,” Mark says. “If they believe in what you’re doing and can grow with the company and raise a family, then they’ll be willing to commit their lives and skill set to your company, and learn with you.”

He pauses. A contented sigh follows. 

“I’m happy, really happy,” he says. “I don’t know what we’d do without our employees. It’s been a fun ride.”

Which, thankfully, isn’t taken for granted.

More at sambrailo.com