Nickey Gregory makes an impact in Atlanta
Nickey Gregory makes an impact in Atlanta
From a modest beginning nearly 25 years ago, Nickey Gregory has developed into a major player in the Atlanta produce scene. The result has been great news for a number of different types of businesses in the region looking for a partner that emphasizes superior quality and service.
The full-line fresh product distributor was started by Nickey and Cheryl Gregory in January 2000 at the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market with a single cooler and truck. Working very hard over the next quarter century, the Forest Park, GA-based company has grown over the years to now include two warehouses, totaling more than 150,000 square feet, and employing more than 300 people.
“We are a full line wholesaler and processor, carrying a wide assortment of products from apples to zucchini,” said Andrew Scott, a 10-plus year employee of the company and now the operation’s vice president of business development and marketing, who also wears many other hats when it comes to working with customers. “We have always been geared toward selling the foodservice segment for the past 20 plus years, but earlier this year we started, from scratch — a retail support division.
“We made some key hires and bought six new trucks and started selling independent retailers, direct store delivery. We look for this new venture for us to continue to grow as we add more store groups.”
Today the company, which carries in excess of 500 commodities, is located on the Atlanta State Farmers Market campus. Company officials feel the location, along with Atlanta’s extensive interstate highway system, allow for easy access to the full line of fresh produce for overnight delivery throughout the southeast region of the nation.
It has been a good journey that just seems to be getting better and better for the operators and employees of Nickey Gregory. Scott, who has been in the produce business since 1991, said that the company started its fresh cut processing division from scratch in 2018.
“This has been a big area of growth for our company and we continue to expand FFF (family fresh foods) with the addition of new machinery and some key hires,” he added.
In addition to fresh produce products, Nickey Gregory also offers services to support retailers, foodservice distributors and other wholesalers. The company also packs and wraps with its state-of-the-art machinery under its Cheryl’s Best label and can pack private label for its customers, specializing in custom splits and repacks for the foodservice industry.
The company has expanded in other ways, too. For example, Gregory Family Express is the company’s dedicated trucking subsidiary that was founded in 2013. It allows the operation to deliver just-in-time fresh and frozen products that can be delivered within a 650-mile radius through most of the southeast.
The company’s relationship with the Atlanta market and, specifically, the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market, has played a big role in its success.
“Nickey has had a great relationship with the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market, even during his days working for his parent’s wholesale business,” Scott said. “Nickey has seen this market evolve over the past 50-plus years and has been instrumental in renovating a number of buildings on the market. We currently have two of the nicest, cleanest buildings on the Atlanta Market.”
Scott, as well as the rest of the Nickey Gregory leadership team, expects that with continued hard work, the company will continue to look for ways to expand its business. “We will continue to grow our business and become more diversified with wholesaling, processing and supporting independent retailers,” he noted.
