Peter John Condakes, president of Peter Condakes Co. Inc., told The Produce News that the company has made some major location changes in recent times.

“Suzanne Polymeros, a vice president and partner is in charge of fruit and western vegetables,” explained Condakes. “Peter Leo Condakes is also a vice president and in charge of Southern and imported vegetables. In March we moved their operations from the Boston Market Terminal to the New England Produce Center next to our tomato and tropicals division.Peter John Condakes The two markets are only a stone’s throw apart but the move to us now being all in building C enables us to collaborate more efficiently.”

Stephen Condakes, a vice president in charge of tropicals, is the fourth partner in the business.

The company still maintains space in the Boston Market Terminal, and it owns approximately 30 percent of the market. The company is now using its space there for inventory storage. The recent changes mean that all sales are now handled out of the New England Produce Center.

“This change enables us to better service our customers,” said Condakes. “Although we’re not next to each other it’s much more convenient than being separated by buildings. We’re now able to consolidate with increased efficiencies and shoot product to customers more expediently.”

Peter Condakes Co. is a 110-plus-year-old firm that carries all major conventional produce commodities except potatoes, onions and watermelons. It specializes in all berry varieties, Western fruits, stone fruits and Florida citrus. Commodity items such as peppers and squashes are also large programs. Its tomato business is so large that it has a dedicated specific and separate division. The company also has a strong tropical division.

The company’s primary customers are wholesalers and foodservice operators, but it has a nice share of smaller chain retailers. Major chains use the company’s products primarily for fill-ins.

Condakes noted that the recession has taken its toll at the restaurant level in New England, as it has elsewhere.

“There is definitely reduced discretionary spending going on,” he noted. “People aren’t loosening up because wages haven’t gone up. They’re simply forced to be very careful about spending money.”

While Peter Condakes Co. does not service quick-serve restaurants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s directly, its products do end up at such restaurants through the wholesalers it services.

“However, we have picked up an account because of our food safety and traceability initiatives in the value end of the casual dining and upper end foodservice segments,” said Condakes. “And so we are witnessing how these programs are important to customers of all levels.”

Some chain restaurants, he noted, are now opening their own warehouses and buying direct in an effort to save money by eliminating the middlemen.

“It takes time to get into the proper cycle to be able to bid to any of the chain restaurants, and some are looking for repacked tomatoes and food-safety requirements,” Condakes explained. “And that’s what we’re all about. Even some value chains are stepping up to the plate and paying a bit more in order to buy products that are fully food safety-certified.”

He said that it’s imperative for companies to change internally as the industry changes, and he added, “Our company is proof that changing with the times is a successful method.”

He also noted that the forward distribution of product by f.o.b. shippers is increasing greatly today. Companies, for example, are shipping out of Mexico to their warehouses in the Northeast. When major chainstores need product, they just source if from a warehouse as opposed to buying it from terminal market companies.

“Supermarkets think they’re buying f.o.b., but they’re essentially doing what companies like mine have been doing for many years,” Condakes noted.

“Business,” he continued, “is very inconsistent. People buy heavy at the end of the week to get them through the weekend, then they buy again on Monday to replenish. It’s pretty quiet during the week, and at the end of the week the frenzy starts again. Things seem to break open in June and July, when people are cooking and eating out for the summer holidays.”

Condakes attributed the very quiet start to the fall to home gardeners still picking from their backyards. He said that as of mid-September there had not been a freeze in the area, and so people are still eating — and sharing — from their gardens.

Condakes said that the Hispanic population in New England is strong and growing.

“As is the Asian population,” he said. “The focus of demand from all ethnic groups is on tropical and specialty items that aren’t mainstream, which is one of the areas in which we specialize.”