KANSAS CITY, Mo. — C&C Produce celebrated its 25th anniversary with about 550 suppliers, customers, transportation partners and employees May 4 at its Kansas City headquarters.
Co-owner Nick Conforti said he and his fellow owners John Conforti and Joe Cali never imagined the company would be become what it has when they started in 1992.
“The three of us didn’t dream we’d have 300 employees and a 200,000-square-foot facility by now,” he said at the event. “It’s been neat to see others grow around us and help us with our success.”
Conforti said his wholesale produce company has grown along with the produce industry.
SLIDESHOW: See photos from the event here.
He said the company has customized programs for each of its customers, whether they want a full line of produce; repack services; to use its ripening program for bananas, avocado and mangoes; or its Cool Creations fresh-cut products.
“With produce, we’ve grown right along with it, from bulk (25 years ago) to the packaged trends today,” Conforti said.
He said C&C has always had strong retail business, but lately its foodservice business has really taken off.
“In the last seven to 10 years, we’ve become a major factor in foodservice with up to $50 million (a year) in sales,” he said.
The May 4 anniversary party also had a charitable beneficiary in Farmer’s House, a working farm and market in Weston, Mo., that gives children and young adults with developmental disabilities work experience. Conforti said he hoped to raise about $5,000 for it at the party.
