Nickey Gregory Co. is a proud SEPC major sponsor
Nickey Gregory Co. is a proud SEPC major sponsor
Nickey Gregory Co. is gearing up for a strong presence at the upcoming Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure, with a diverse, cross-departmental team attending and a clear focus on relationship-building, fresh-cut growth and regional supply conversations.
The Atlanta-based company will send seven team members to the show, including representatives from transportation, wholesaling and its processing and fresh-cut division, Family Fresh Foods. Three employees from Family Fresh Foods will attend as the company continues to spotlight its ready-to-eat and value-added offerings.
“It’s always been a really good show for us,” said Andrew Scott, vice president of sales and business development for Nickey Gregory Co. “You get good quality people there — good quality buyers that actually walk the floor. The Southeast Produce Council does a really good job of getting decision-makers to this event.”
Nickey Gregory Co. is a gold sponsor of the event and will exhibit on sponsors row at booth No. 103, positioning the company front-and-center for conversations with both customers and suppliers. Scott noted Southern Exposure is one of two core shows the company prioritizes each year, along with SEPC’s fall event.
“There’s a personal feel to it,” he said. “It’s almost like a homecoming or a family reunion. You’re seeing your produce friends who are also your customers and vendors all in one place.”
At the booth, attendees can expect to see a broad snapshot of the company’s capabilities. Family Fresh Foods will feature its fresh-cut and processed, ready-to-eat items, while the broader Nickey Gregory team will be available to discuss wholesale, repacking and logistics services, including inbound and outbound freight, less-than-truckload and crossdocking solutions.
“We always get something out of this show,” Scott said. “Whether it’s a new customer or a new vendor, Southern Exposure consistently delivers value.”
The booth itself will reflect the show’s theme (From Fields to Families), a design approach Nickey Gregory Co. uses to add a personal touch. Rather than keeping the same backdrop year after year, the company updates its visuals to align with the host city and overall event theme.
“It just makes it feel more customized instead of the same old backdrop every show,” Scott said.
Beyond showcasing products and services, Scott expects conversations on the show floor to center on weather-driven supply challenges, particularly following recent cold snaps in Florida that may impact winter and spring crops.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of talk about the cold weather that just went through Florida,” he said. “There could be some serious damage to row crops, strawberries, maybe even citrus, and that’s going to affect the rest of the winter and spring crops.”
For Nickey Gregory Co., a successful show comes down to quality connections rather than sheer volume.
“If we can come away with one or two new customers and one or two new growers or shippers, that’s a win,” Scott said, noting ongoing consolidation across both the grower-shipper and customer sides of the industry.
Looking beyond SEPC, the company is optimistic about the months ahead, particularly the upcoming spring growing season in Georgia.
“Spring is probably the best season for Georgia-grown items,” Scott said. “You’ve got peaches, blueberries, Vidalia onions and a lot of high-quality produce coming on. Supporting Georgia-grown and locally grown products is something we’re really looking forward to.”
With a strong January already behind it and a full team engaged at Southern Exposure, Nickey Gregory Co. sees the show as a key step in building momentum for the year ahead.
