FOREST PARK, GA — Broker Merrin-Cravens Co. is continuing to do what it does best — supply the wholesale and food service industry with top-quality produce from around the world.

The company has a lot of return business because of its longstanding reputation that has been ongoing since it was founded in 1923.

“We try to be fair and honest,” said David Rose, president of Merrin-Cravens Co. “We are brokers, and we buy and sell product.”

Merrin-Cravens buys its produce from many areas, including Florida, Central America, Chile and Honduras to name a few.

Merrin-Cravens Co. Salesman Bert Lakin (back) and President David Rose are hard at work at the company’s office in Forest Park, GA.Over many years and several owners, one thing remains constant — the company has learned who its good customers are. Its strategy is smart and simple.

“We establish one little customer base, then you learn who pays, who doesn’t, who is honest and fair and who you work well with,” said Rose. “We’ve been around here so long that we know who is good to work with and who is not.” And the customers also know what to expect from Merrin- Cravens. “We try to deal with them honestly and fairly,” Rose said.

The Merrin-Cravens team has a lot of experience. This October, David Rose will celebrate 24 years with the company. Salesman Bert Latkin has been there about nine years and Dale Durrance, who takes care of transportation and is also a salesman, has been there 15 years.  

Durrance attributed the company’s longevity and success to the personal attention it gives. “We coddle these customers like crazy like they were ours,” he said. “I enjoy making the best deal and satisfying the customer.”

Rose said the success of the company is based on a lot of hard work, good luck and keeping up relationships. His advice for success, “Keep up with who you know and who you’re selling and buying from,” he said.

Merrin-Cravens’ office is located at the Atlanta State Market in Forest Park, GA — a suburb of Atlanta. It moved to that location in 1985.

Like many in the produce industry, the team has to be flexible and weather the challenges in the business. One of which is dealing with sick workers and the logistics around that. The company has to be prepared if a truck driver or receiver gets ill. It makes sure whatever can be done is done to get the products to their destinations on time.

The team at the Atlanta office is made up of four salesmen, two women who take care of accounting and receivables, and another salesmen located in a different office.

Overall, Merrin-Cravens’ business model is based on old-fashioned common sense of serving your customers well, maintaining relationships and having a good time doing it.