Golden Cannoli Shells Inc., Chelsea, Mass., is the Small Business Administration (SBA) Massachusetts 2014 Small Business of the Year. The selection is based on a variety of criteria: Staying power, growth in number of employees, increase in sales and/or unit volume, current and past financial reports, innovation of product or service, response to adversity and contribution to aid the community.

Golden Cannoli Shells specializes in making hand-rolled, premium cannoli shells for national distribution. The company was started more than 40 years ago by cousins Francesco Bono and Angelo Bresciani. Descendants Valerie Bono, Ed Bresciani, Eric Bresciani and Maria Elena Malloy own the company today.

“It is a tremendous honor for our family and our Golden Cannoli team to be recognized by the SBA,” says Valerie Bono. “When our fathers started this company 45 years ago, I don’t think they could have imagined we would be where we are today.

“Our recent growth and continued opportunities are a testament to the support we have received from the SBA, First Trade Union Bank, Granite State Development, MassMEP, Mass Office of Business Development, the city of Chelsea, the Chamber of Commerce, SCORE members and all of our business support staff. It is true that with hard work, dedication and a clear vision anything is possible, and we could not be more excited about the future of Golden Cannoli.”

For more about Golden Cannoli Shells, Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery's 2013 Bakery of the Year, read "Craving Cannoli" and “Creating Cannoli.”