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72: Fresh Produce, Fresh Ideas: Exploring the Cutting-Edge World of Last Mile Distribution with Greg Corsaro & Jim Reynolds
Manage episode 359168579 series 3011985
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In this episode dives we dive deep into the ever-evolving produce industry, uncovering the secrets to success of two leading companies and the innovative trends driving the future of fresh food. We explore the challenges of labor constraints and inflation, and how companies like Fresh Edge and Pacific Coast Fruit Company have adapted to stay ahead. We discuss the importance of customer relationships, the use of technology and data analytics, and the rise of prepared foods and value-added produce. With expert insights from industry leaders, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of the produce industry.
Key Takeaways
- How Fresh Edge and Pacific Coast Fruit Company have overcome industry changes
- Understand the shift from 80-90% art to 65% science and 35% art in the produce industry
- How data analytics, automation, and prepared foods are driving efficiency and cost-effectiveness
- Why companies are balancing employee needs with profitability
- How loyalty and consolidation have become key parts of doing business in the produce industry
Shareable Quotes
“Online shopping that occurs at a grocery store where people shop online and have delivered, the grocery store still needs the product. So we still need to supply from that regard. As a matter of fact, I think our value to our grocery store customers in our retail segment has increased through online shopping because the customer who buys online from a grocery store needs to trust the quality and freshness of that product.”
“So if you can imagine if you send a tractor trailer full of produce to a grocery store that costs so much, if you send a straight truck with ten restaurant orders to a neighborhood with restaurants that's going to cost more than your full tractor trailer going on the grocery because you got all these stops, all these cases delivering up and down outside of the truck.”
“When you look back, you realize it it's just been an incredible evolution of change for the industry in general. There's been a lot of cleaning out. I would think of the industry. Folks who didn't do their business well or didn't understand how to do their business, unfortunately weren't able to bear the tide and challenges that, of course, COVID, and then the subsequent challenges have presented from suppliers to distributors to end users, everyone has faced that out.”
Guest Resources
Greg Corsaro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-corsaro-989557141/
FreshEdge on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freshedge/
FreshEdge: https://www.freshedgefoods.com/
Jim Reynolds on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-reynolds-60351b4/
Pacific Coast Fruit Company on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-coast-fruit-company/
Pacific Coast Fruit Company: https://www.pcfruit.com/
Show Links
International Fresh Produce Association - https://www.freshproduce.com/
Fresh Takes on Tech - https://www.freshproduce.com/resources/technology/takes-on-tech-podcast/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFreshProduceAssociation/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/IntFreshProduce/
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-fresh-produce-association/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/intlfreshproduceassn/
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