MONTREAL — J.B. Laverdure Inc. has purchased Premier Fruit and Vegetable Co. and moved into its 95,000-square-foot facility, about 10 minutes from the central market. The Montreal wholesale company held an open house Oct. 25 to introduce customers to the newly combined group of 100 Laverdure and Premier employees and show off their new digs. The move is timely, vice president Bernard Côté said, since Laverdure has outgrown its original space. "The new facilities allow us to be much more efficient," Côté said. "We’re able to bring in more product and offer our customers more variety." He said the deal gives Laverdure exclusive access to Premier’s tomatoes and peppers from Mexico and pineapples from Costa Rica, sold under the Master Touch label. The move at the end of May meant a crazy two months for everyone, Côté said, and the Premier team had to learn Laverdure’s software system. He said the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-accredited building is well-equipped and offers more coolers, docks and office space. There is also space for Laverdure’s expanding packaged line, which includes mesh bags of citrus and clamshell hot peppers and tomatoes under the new Alternature label.
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