Four Seasons to close Texas division
Four Seasons to close Texas division
Four Seasons Produce Inc. in Ephrata, PA, announced Aug. 26 that it will close its Donna, TX-based division, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP, by Nov. 1.
In a statement, Ron Carkoski, president and chief executive officer of parent company Four Seasons Produce Inc., called it "strictly a business decision" based on Four Seasons Trading Co. LP's ineffective performance. He said that the move will allow the company to focus on its vibrant market in the mid-Atlantic region.
From a customer standpoint, he said, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP was not able to live up to one of the corporations core values, which emphasizes exceptional partnerships.
Four Seasons Trading Co. LP, which grew out of a 2004 acquisition of Sol Fresh Produce, has 16 employees. The company has focused on linking buyers throughout the United States with fruit and vegetable growers in Texas, Mexico and, to a lesser degree, South America.
Mr. Carkoski emphasized the overall strong health of Four Seasons Produce Inc., which employs 450 people through its headquarters and three operating units in Ephrata, PA.
As difficult as it was to make this decision, particularly for the way it affects loyal employees and valued customers, it was important to act before this part of our business negatively affected our overall company, he said.
The Donna, TX, employees will receive severance packages based on the amount of time they are being asked to stay on, he said. A few employees will have an opportunity to relocate to Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, some parts of the Texas operations will transfer to Pennsylvania, Mr. Carkoski said.
Four Seasons associates in Pennsylvania and Texas worked really hard to make this a success for all parties concerned, but we just couldnt seem to turn the corner, Mr. Carkoski said.
In the next four weeks, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP will complete any remaining buying and selling to which it is contractually obligated, Mr. Carkoski said. The company will vacate its 50,000-square-foot building by Nov. 1, when it will revert to its landlord. Earlier this year, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP closed a sales office in Nogales, AZ.
Owner David Hollinger started Four Seasons Produce Co., which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to wholesale, retail and foodservice customers, in 1976 in Denver, PA. Last year, the company consolidated its operations into a new 246,000-square-foot facility in nearby Ephrata. Across the street are two other business units: Four Seasons Trading Co., which imports and brokers fresh produce, and Four Seasons Logistics Co., which provides transportation and third-party storage services to the produce industry.
In a statement, Ron Carkoski, president and chief executive officer of parent company Four Seasons Produce Inc., called it "strictly a business decision" based on Four Seasons Trading Co. LP's ineffective performance. He said that the move will allow the company to focus on its vibrant market in the mid-Atlantic region.
From a customer standpoint, he said, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP was not able to live up to one of the corporations core values, which emphasizes exceptional partnerships.
Four Seasons Trading Co. LP, which grew out of a 2004 acquisition of Sol Fresh Produce, has 16 employees. The company has focused on linking buyers throughout the United States with fruit and vegetable growers in Texas, Mexico and, to a lesser degree, South America.
Mr. Carkoski emphasized the overall strong health of Four Seasons Produce Inc., which employs 450 people through its headquarters and three operating units in Ephrata, PA.
As difficult as it was to make this decision, particularly for the way it affects loyal employees and valued customers, it was important to act before this part of our business negatively affected our overall company, he said.
The Donna, TX, employees will receive severance packages based on the amount of time they are being asked to stay on, he said. A few employees will have an opportunity to relocate to Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, some parts of the Texas operations will transfer to Pennsylvania, Mr. Carkoski said.
Four Seasons associates in Pennsylvania and Texas worked really hard to make this a success for all parties concerned, but we just couldnt seem to turn the corner, Mr. Carkoski said.
In the next four weeks, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP will complete any remaining buying and selling to which it is contractually obligated, Mr. Carkoski said. The company will vacate its 50,000-square-foot building by Nov. 1, when it will revert to its landlord. Earlier this year, Four Seasons Trading Co. LP closed a sales office in Nogales, AZ.
Owner David Hollinger started Four Seasons Produce Co., which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to wholesale, retail and foodservice customers, in 1976 in Denver, PA. Last year, the company consolidated its operations into a new 246,000-square-foot facility in nearby Ephrata. Across the street are two other business units: Four Seasons Trading Co., which imports and brokers fresh produce, and Four Seasons Logistics Co., which provides transportation and third-party storage services to the produce industry.
