Charlie Eagle, vice president of business development for Southern Specialties, headquartered in Pompano Beach, FL, told The Produce News that the company always looks forward to the Produce Marketing Association Foodservice Conference & Expo in Monterey, CA, this year on July 26-28.

“We are in attendance at the expo to meet with our foodservice customers,” said Eagle. “I’ll be joined by Susana Troop, senior account manager, foodservice division, and Daryl Johnston, vice president of sales.”

Southern Specialties grower-partner Edwin Sanabria in a field of baby carrots in Guatemala.Eagle added that Southern Specialties has a significant foodservice distribution customer base, and this event gives the company the opportunity to schedule casual face-to-face meetings with customers, “most of whom we don’t get to see as often as we would like,” he said. “And we enjoy visiting this beautiful part of the country every year. The venue and the events surrounding the expo keep attendees busy the entire weekend.”

In its various meetings, the Southern Specialties’ team will discuss ways in which it can help its chain restaurant customers to develop direct programs.

“Southern Specialties is a vertically integrated grower, importer and distributor of a variety of specialty produce items that are regular components in increasingly more menus,” said Eagle. “We offer a wide variety of programs on items such as asparagus, French beans and sugar snap peas and other products on a year-round basis that are available from several distribution points that the company maintains nationwide.

The company also offers products for foodservice distributors that have added value. One example is its hand- clipped french beans that are packaged in performance film bags that provide extended shelf life and enhanced food safety.

“Our customer base includes the finest foodservice distributors in the nation, and our products can be found in establishments from fine dining to casual and fast-food chains,” said Eagle. “Our contract assistance to restaurant groups is organized through our foodservice distribution network.”

In June, Southern Specialties named Jeff Reid vice president of operations. Reid will oversee development and execution of strategic objectives to maximize growth and profitability for the company. Also in June, the company hired Robert Saake as key account manager. Saake has eight years of experience in the produce industry, most recently in the sales department of Hugh Branch Inc. in Belle Glade, FL. In May, it announced that it had hired Katie Johnston as key account manager.

“Southern Specialties has established both short- and long-term strategies for its continued growth,” said Eagle. “These plans include the expansion of our sales and executive team as our company continues to grow and evolve.”