Catalytic Generators and Exp. Group scale the art of ripening
Catalytic Generators and Exp. Group scale the art of ripening
Ripening more than 75,000 boxes of bananas and 100,000 boxes of plantains per week requires precision, predictability and partners that can scale. For Exp. Group, one of the largest ripening operations in the United States, its multi-decade partnership with Catalytic Generators has provided the reliable ethylene foundation needed to support growth while delivering consistent quality across its expanding U.S. footprint.
For over three decades, Catalytic Generators, a specialist in ethylene application systems for fruit ripening, has worked alongside Exp. Group, supporting its growth from a family-founded produce distributor into one of the largest banana ripening operations in the United States. The partnership began with Gene Akins and Emil Serafino. Today, their sons Greg Akins and Anthony Serafino continue that legacy, guiding their respective family businesses with aligned values and a shared commitment to quality and long-term trust.
Exp. Group is a family-owned, nationwide fresh produce distributor headquartered in North Bergen, NJ. It sources high-quality products from domestic farms and imports from the Caribbean, South America and Central America. The company operates a large-scale banana and plantain ripening and distribution platform with facilities in North Bergen and McAllen, TX. The company ripens more than 75,000 boxes of bananas and over 100,000 boxes of plantains per week, handling close to one million boxes of fresh produce across its supply chain, including papayas, pears, tomatoes and other commodities. Its four pillars — quality, service, brand and culture — guide daily operations.
“Ripening is an art," said Anthony Serafino, president and principal of Exp. Group. "Anyone can turn fruit yellow, but delivering the right color, shelf life and consistency for each customer requires discipline and precision.”
Catalytic Generators’ systems support efficient and controlled fruit ripening. Its Easy-Ripe generators and Ethy-Gen II ethylene concentrate allow Exp. Group to manage ripening cycles precisely, achieving consistent color and quality across multiple commodities while minimizing variability across high-volume operations.
“Ethylene should not be complicated," said Serafino. "Our clients don’t want surprises. If they ask for a certain color, they expect exactly that. As we grow, we need predictability. We need to know that what we put into the chamber is going to deliver exactly what our customers expect.”
“Our goal is to make ethylene the easiest part of the ripening process," said Akins. "When operators can apply ethylene reliably and predictably, they can focus on serving their customers and scaling their operations with confidence.”
“The biggest thing that made our relationship with Catalytic Generators so strong is that they’re a family organization, just like us, and they truly understand our values," said Serafino. "When you pick a vendor, you have to know what they stand for. We know what Catalytic Generators stand for, and our priorities and values align. That’s what makes working with them so straightforward and dependable.”
Exp. Group began its ripening operations in 2013 with just seven rooms. Today, the company operates across two facilities using Catalytic Generators’ solutions. In North Bergen 35 ripening chambers rely on the system to manage precise ethylene dosing for bananas and plantains. The McAllen, Texas facility, which supports national distribution, operates under the same approach, ensuring consistency across locations.
Serafino said, “As your ripening scales, so do your needs. You need a vendor that grows with you. We started small, and Catalytic Generators was there. As we expanded, they scaled with us.”
Over the years, Catalytic Generators has been at Exp. Group’s side through every stage of growth. The company’s technology enables Exp. Group to meet diverse client specifications, from slower ripening cycles for customers with larger inventory capacity to faster color turns for high-density urban outlets.
Catalytic Generators also brings global experience to the partnership. The company operates across the world, navigating different regulatory frameworks and operational requirements. It invests in safety and compliance, ensuring all systems meet international standards and are approved in key regions.
As Exp. Group continues expanding its last-mile delivery capabilities, the focus remains on ensuring produce reaches customers in optimal condition. Serafino describes the company’s goal as building a differentiated distribution network — a model designed to combine ripening expertise with operational precision at the final stage of delivery.
“Last-mile delivery is where quality meets the consumer,” Serafino said. “That’s what made Amazon, Amazon. If you control that last step, you control the customer experience. Catalytic Generators allows us to ripen efficiently and reliably, so the fruit arrives at the right color and condition, every time.”
