2021 Chicago Know Your Market Business Updates
Coosemans adds salesman
Mike Janes, who is new to the produce industry, has joined the experienced sales staff at Coosemans Chicago Inc., said Mark Pappas, president.
From 60% to 70% of the company’s business is with foodservice Pappas said.
Though the company was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic when restaurants and other foodservice operations closed or cut back their hours, business is gradually returning, he said.
Weddings and sporting events already are back, and Pappas said the company anticipates strong foodservice sales for Christmas and New Year’s.
Diversification key at Ruby
Diversification has been a key to success for The Ruby Co., Buffalo Grove, Ill., said Josh Wolff, director of growth and strategy.
“Even before the pandemic, we were focused on diversification,” he said. “But after the pandemic hit, it raised the level of need in terms of diversification to help mitigate any risk to the business in the event that we encounter unforeseen challenges.”
He termed the pandemic “a big wakeup call” and said the firm’s current level of diversification “is putting us in a really good position to grow.”
The company has added a freight brokerage – Deploy Solutions Group – that will ship anything, including plastics, recycled goods, dry food, wood, material, seafood and water, Wolff said.
The firm also now handles some items from West Coast growing areas.
“We have hired some key staff members who are focused on West Coast commodities,” he said.
And the company was a big supporter of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and continues to respond to government solicitations for fresh produce offerings.
Strube expands organics
Chicago-based Strube Celery and Vegetable Co. is heavily expanding its organic division, said TJ Fleming, vice president.
The company started emphasizing its organic deal a couple of years ago by assigning one
dedicated salesman.
With the recent addition of Arnold Nevarez, Strube now has three full-time organic salesmen.
David Allen and Bob Scaman round out the organic sales team.
In 1991, Scaman founded Goodness Greeness Inc., a Chicago-based organic produce supplier where all three worked.
Strube now has three highly experienced salesmen who are “taking us to the next level in organics,” Fleming said.
“We’re becoming a player in the organic world,” he said. “We are full-line organic now -- A to Z.”
Leafy vegetables, mushrooms, carrots, apples, potatoes and onions are some of the firm’s most popular organic items.
“An opportunity came along, we jumped on it, and it’s worked out great,” Fleming said.
“We started slow, with baby steps, and within two years, we’ve become a major player in organics.”
Also at Strube Celery and Vegetable Co., Danny Serrano has been promoted from the operations department to sales and has taken over the Hispanic division.
“He’s young and aggressive and has done a great job growing and improving that department,” Fleming said.
