Lone Star focuses on service
Lone Star focuses on service
There are some things Trent Bishop, sales manager of Lone Star Citrus Groves in Mission, TX, and one of the company’s founders, just can’t control. One of those is the disposition of his competitors.
When Lone Star was formed in 2007, there were a bit more than a handful of packer-shippers in south Texas in the citrus industry.
Lone Star’s Texas Sweeties packed and ready to ship. Over those years several packers have been sold to companies outside of the Lone Star State (the company’s obvious inspiration for its name) and still others have shuttered their operations.
“We don’t have any control over that,” said Bishop. “When we started in 2007, our philosophy was to put our blinders on and do the best job we possibly could for our growers and our customers. And that’s what we have done. We are very centered on customer service. It’s part of our culture.”
Bishop said that business model seems to be working “as we have grown every year. This year we expect to have 15 to 20 percent more volume.” The company’s growth is being fueled by adding growers every year and also by existing growers adding acreage.
He said the lack of shippers doesn’t really change the market dynamic as there is still pretty close to the same amount of fruit that needs to be sold every day. “There seems to be enough business to keep all of us going every day,” he quipped.
He added that selling Texas citrus is a very enjoyable aspect of his job and one that never gets old. “I am very much involved in the day-to-day sales of the crop,” he said, repeating that “customer service” is the foundation upon which the firm was founded.
As he surveyed the landscape for the 2014-15 season, Bishop liked what he saw. The company sells throughout the United States and Canada, and also typically has some export business in the Far East.
“And this year we have gotten a couple of inquiries from Europe. Florida usually owns that market. We’ve taken the inquiries and run them up the flagpole to see where they go. They might not pan out, but the interest is a good sign,” he added.