[6][7][8][9] Italian immigrants Peter Domenici and Enrico Parducci founded what was then the San Francisco Sausage Company in 1969.

[11] Columbus Salame hired Studio Hinrichs, in association with Pentagram, to revamp their company logo, emphasizing their Italian heritage, including use of the Bodoni typeface.

[12][13][14] On August 28, 2009, a leak at their South San Francisco facility sent 200 pounds of anhydrous ammonia into the air, sickening more than two dozen people.

The company paid $850,000 in penalties, and agreed to facility upgrades to settle a lawsuit filed by San Mateo County.

[21] Co-owner John Piccetti has coauthored a book, Salumi: Savory Recipes and Serving Ideas for Salame, Prosciutto, and More, with cookbook author Joyce Goldstein, Charcutier Francois Vecchio, and David Rosengarten.