To meet the growing demand for consistent, ready-to-sell bananas and plantains, North Bergen, N.J.-based Exp Group has continued to grow its ripening capacity and now manages more than 175,000 boxes of fruit per week, representing millions of boxes annually.
To facilitate this growth, Exp Group has grown from seven rooms in 2013 to 35 chambers today, operating across two facilities and serving 15 to 20 customers with different ripening requirements.
Exp Group says the expansion relies on its long-standing partnership with Catalytic Generators to support reliable, high-volume ripening across its expanding national network.
For over three decades, Catalytic Generators has worked alongside Exp Group, supporting its evolution from a family-founded distributor into a large-scale ripening and distribution operation. Today, Greg Akins of Catalytic Generators and Anthony Serafino of Exp Group continue that legacy, leading their respective family businesses with a shared commitment to quality and long-term trust, they say.
Exp Group operates ripening and distribution facilities in New Jersey and Texas, handling close to 1 million boxes of fresh produce a month across its supply chain.
“Ripening is an art,” Serafino says. “Anyone can turn fruit yellow, but delivering the right color, shelf life and consistency for each customer requires discipline and precision.”
Precision at Scale
Catalytic Generators says its systems enable controlled and consistent ripening across high-volume operations. Easy-Ripe generators and Ethy-Gen II allow Exp Group to manage ripening cycles precisely and minimize variability.
“Ethylene should not be complicated. Our clients don’t want surprises. If they ask for a certain color, they expect exactly that,” Serafino says.
Simplicity in the ripening process is key, says the Norfolk, Va.-based Catalytic Generators, a company dedicated exclusively to ethylene application systems. It operates across the globe, supplying fresh produce companies, grocery distribution centers and growers with the tools to ripen avocados, bananas, tomatoes and more.
“Our goal is to make ethylene the easiest part of the ripening process, so operators can focus on serving customers and scaling their operations with confidence,” Akins says.
Scaling With Flexibility
Today, Exp Group manages 15 to 20 customers, each with different ripening requirements.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all model,” Serafino explains. “Some need slower cycles, others faster turnover. The system allows us to adapt without losing consistency. When you’re moving close to a million boxes a week, consistency isn’t optional; it’s essential.”
Supporting Last-Mile Quality
As Exp Group expands its distribution model, ripening remains critical to delivering consistent quality.
“Last-mile delivery is where quality meets the consumer,” Serafino says. “Catalytic Generators allows us to ripen efficiently and reliably, so the fruit arrives at the right condition every time.”
The company says it plans to continue expanding its ripening capacity as part of its long-term growth strategy.
