Ben B. gets bigger and better, year after year
Ben B. gets bigger and better, year after year
Despite what you might have seen on the news, or read in the paper, the city of Detroit continues to provide a productive atmosphere for the produce industry, according to Nate Stone, chief operating officer at Ben B. Schwartz & Sons, located on the Detroit Produce Terminal Market since 1906.
“Living here, it’s isolated. It’s almost like looking at a thumbnail,” Stone said of Detroit. “This business has only gotten bigger and better. What we continue to experience is phenomenal.”
Robert Sanders, Jake Billmeyer and Ralph Laderoot III of Ben B. Schwartz.Stone did acknowledge, however, that the announcement of Detroit emerging from bankruptcy in early December will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the economy and rest of the country, and in return, the produce industry.
As for Ben B. in particular, the company is banking on another successful year ahead, and is currently planning on expanding its location in 2015.
“We’re trying to make plans right now for additional space in the coming year,” Stone said.
So who is responsible for keeping Ben B. at the top of its game? Well, the answer to that is easy, said Stone — it’s all possible because of the leadership that Ben B. President and Chief Executive Officer Chris Billmeyer brings to his team.
“This is a guy that’s just tireless,” Stone said. “He works seven days a week and he’s just as intense about the first order of the day as he is about the last.
“It takes a special person to be a leader of a large company and have it continue to grow,” he added. “There’s a respect for Chris’ knowledge and it’s easy to follow a guy who works as hard as he does.”
Also helping to keep Ben B. running smoothly are Billmeyer’s two sons, Drew and Jake, who both work as buyers/salesmen for the company.
“These are people that believe in the industry, that believe in the family business and have dedicated themselves to bring the fourth generation to carry on this very successful business,” Stone said.
The two sons have helped to improve the business, according to Stone, who added that they, along with the rest of the young staff at Ben B., have go-getting attitudes that are contagious and exciting to work with.
“I think it’s youthful exuberance,” Stone said. “It’s just the energy they bring to the business.”
And that energy, Stone noted, will only help Ben B. continue to thrive and expand in the coming year ahead.