Sometimes father knows best. Partner Jim Sanfillipo reflected on what it takes to differentiate a company from its competitors, and created a guiding philosophy that has served Sanfillipo Produce Co. Inc. well.

“Our motto is we say ‘yes’ when the other guy says ‘no’,” his son Jamie Sanfillipo, company president and partner, told The Produce News. “This philosophy has really had an impact on our business.”

Sanfillipo Produce, headquartered at the Columbus Produce Terminal Co., now occupies nine units with an overall footprint of 18,000 square feet. The Sanfillipo family has supplied the greater Columbus, OH, area with quality produce for more than a century. The company’s manifest of fresh fruits and vegetables ranges from apples to yucca. Specialty products marketed include artichokes, beans, mushrooms and fresh herbs.

When the domestic economy began to decline, Jamie Sanfillipo said the company did something unexpected. “We became aggressive during the recession,” he said. “We’re a little more aggressive with our sales staff.” The company has four sales representatives on the street and one inside sales person.

According to Mr. Sanfillipo, business continues to grow. “So far this year, we’re up another 25 percent from [2011-12],” he stated.

Sanfillipo Produce distinguishes itself with its customers in another way. “We deliver seven days a week,” Mr. Sanfillipo commented. “We do second runs to our customers.” He went on to say the practice is long-standing. “We started Sunday delivery for a few people,” he explained. “Now it’s grown to 40-50 people today.”

The company services customers in Central Ohio. With Columbus in the center, the delivery area extends 40 miles to the west, 60 miles south, 40 miles north and 120 miles east. According to Mr. Sanfillipo, the company now has a fleet of 13 delivery trucks, three more than last year.

Mr. Sanfillipo was asked how the 2013 marketing season is faring. “The beginning of this year was the rockiest I can remember,” he replied. He said commodity pricing was very high during the first quarter. “This was what we call the perfect storm,” he added. The only commodity which didn’t carry some sticker shock was potatoes.

“There was a 15-percent increase in cost across the board,” he continued. “Everybody said it was the weather.” Conditions even iced up in Yuma, AZ.

“For a while, it was even a matter of if you could get [head lettuce],” he added. Sanfillipo Produce is moving commodities from Salinas, CA, at the present time, and Mr. Sanfillipo said the region has not suffered adverse weather.

The company participates in the Ohio Proud program and does a big push with locally grown produce.