Ben B. Schwartz & Sons heading to CPMA with purpose
Ben B. Schwartz & Sons heading to CPMA with purpose
After coming off a successful 2025, Ben B. Schwartz & Sons has started 2026 just as strong.
“We added a new member to our sales team to help drive retailer relationships and expand our team’s presence to Grand Rapids,” said Bill Loupée, chief operating officer of the Detroit-based company. “Last year we focused on expanding distribution into the south, and growing in markets adjacent to the Midwest will be a continued goal of ours.”
The company is also noticing more demand for its services, such as bagging and private labeling.
“Customers want to consolidate work where they can, and we’re able to make delivery even more efficient by having product arrive exactly how they need it — whether it’s bagged by specific quantities to sell or branded under a private label for immediate retail,” Loupée said.
Later this month, the company will be headed to the CPMA show and is excited about what’s ahead.
“Canada is a very important region for us in terms of both customers and suppliers,” Loupée said. “This past year was more difficult given the changing tariffs, so going to CPMA is a great opportunity for us to reconnect with our Canadian peers, have important conversations about how we can collectively work better together and strengthen our relationships.”
Ben B’s message is clear — despite changing economic and political climates, the company values its Canadian customers and suppliers and will continue to work with them to the best of its ability.
“We’re based in Detroit, so Canada is a priority market for us,” Loupée said. “We are also close to Leamington, ON, which is considered the greenhouse capital of North America, so we’re able to source a variety of high-quality produce year-around with minimal transportation time and cost. We can also deliver to the Ontario and Quebec regions and distribute Michigan-grown produce quickly and easily to Canadian customers who value local products.”
Ben B. has been expanding its distribution footprint in recent years and CPMA helps support that continued growth and new market development.
“Most wholesale distributors like us are family-run and have employees that have been with the company for decades,” Loupée said. “Customers appreciate that dedication and loyalty and as we expand, it’s important to make time to meet new and old customers face-to-face, shake their hands and establish the trust that becomes the foundation for our working relationship.”
Ben B.’s custom ERP platform gives customers greater transparency into their orders, helping them track deliveries, connect with drivers and get real-time updates, all of which are even more important when it comes to border crossing.
“With customs and inspections, technology helps us automate and share information directly, so if there are any issues we can make adjustments as quickly as possible,” Loupée said.
As it readies for CPMA, two big topics on everyone’s minds are tariffs and AI.
“Tariffs can still be unpredictable, but things have gotten more steady in 2026, and 2025 was a training ground for how we can stay nimble and pivot to changes in real time,” Loupée said. “AI is becoming an operational advantage for companies that find resourceful ways to use it — whether that’s optimizing truck routes, predicting supply and demand or streamlining orders. We’re in a relationships-based business and customers still want to work with people, but AI can help us work smarter, alleviate administrative tasks and future-proof our business.”
Looking ahead, he sees Canada as a key market to expand Ben B.’s business and build its network of customers and suppliers.
“Events like CPMA are important for making those connections, but also to understand what the biggest pain points are that we can address,” Loupée said. “For example, given Canada’s restrictions around plastics, we’re learning more about sustainable practices, including recycled materials that we can use in our packaging. They have different laws and regulations as compared to the U.S., and we can learn from one another as we all innovate within our different operating environments.”
