Wholesalers pool their talents at Fresh Green
Wholesalers pool their talents at Fresh Green
SAN FRANCISCO -- When Ray Mah, Joe Thomas and Steve Ng joined their three separate businesses to form Fresh Green on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market, it was a decision based more on the future than the present.
"None of the businesses were in any trouble," said Mr. Thomas, formerly president of DeMattei Bros. "We just said, 'Let's try it.' All of us are hard workers, so we knew that wouldn't enter into the picture.
What did enter into the picture were the changing buying habits of customers. "The industry is changing, Mr. Thomas said. "We're seeing a difference in buying. People do direct buying and use the street as a short fill-in. Mom-and-pop stores are disappearing.
The buying changes suggested tougher times ahead if the three companies did not enter into this partnership, said Mr. Thomas, who previously handled street business only. Mr. Mah's operation was a combination of street business and deliveries, and Mr. Ng handled strictly deliveries, primarily to Asian restaurants.
Fresh Green came into existence Aug. 1 as a full-service provider after "two or three years of discussions, Mr. Thomas said. The company has 18 employees.
Fresh Green occupies the adjoining four stalls on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market formerly occupied by Mr. Thomas' DeMattei Bros. and Berti Produce -- where Mr. Mah formerly was president. Mr. Mah had occupied his space for 15 years or so and Mr. Thomas had been on the marketplace even longer. Mr. Ng formerly was president of Steve's Produce, which was located nearby off the market. He was a customer of both Mr. Mah and Mr. Thomas.
In the early going, Fresh Green is concentrating on maintaining the customer relationships all three partners brought to the operation. The company handles perhaps as many as 600 items, Mr. Thomas said. Mr. Mah, who handles much of the selling for Fresh Green, said, "Overall, it's been good.
"None of the businesses were in any trouble," said Mr. Thomas, formerly president of DeMattei Bros. "We just said, 'Let's try it.' All of us are hard workers, so we knew that wouldn't enter into the picture.
What did enter into the picture were the changing buying habits of customers. "The industry is changing, Mr. Thomas said. "We're seeing a difference in buying. People do direct buying and use the street as a short fill-in. Mom-and-pop stores are disappearing.
The buying changes suggested tougher times ahead if the three companies did not enter into this partnership, said Mr. Thomas, who previously handled street business only. Mr. Mah's operation was a combination of street business and deliveries, and Mr. Ng handled strictly deliveries, primarily to Asian restaurants.
Fresh Green came into existence Aug. 1 as a full-service provider after "two or three years of discussions, Mr. Thomas said. The company has 18 employees.
Fresh Green occupies the adjoining four stalls on the San Francisco Wholesale Produce Market formerly occupied by Mr. Thomas' DeMattei Bros. and Berti Produce -- where Mr. Mah formerly was president. Mr. Mah had occupied his space for 15 years or so and Mr. Thomas had been on the marketplace even longer. Mr. Ng formerly was president of Steve's Produce, which was located nearby off the market. He was a customer of both Mr. Mah and Mr. Thomas.
In the early going, Fresh Green is concentrating on maintaining the customer relationships all three partners brought to the operation. The company handles perhaps as many as 600 items, Mr. Thomas said. Mr. Mah, who handles much of the selling for Fresh Green, said, "Overall, it's been good.
