Wm. Rosenstein & Sons, a wholesale produce distributor based in Scranton, PA, has purchased 80 percent of Torrington, CT-based Bartolotta Inc. The transaction was completed in April.

“I’ve known the owners of the company for well over 20 years,” explained Kevin Bartolotta, president of Bartolotta Inc. “In a casual conversation with Jay Rosenstein, the company president, in 2014, I jokingly suggested that he buy my company. Sometime later, in another conversation, he broached the topic again, asking if I was serious. We did some negotiating and figuring out of specific details, and came to an agreement that we feel will be beneficial to us both.”

Established in the early 2000s, Bartolotta Inc. brokers a full line of Western and Eastern commodity produce items, primarily vegetables.

The Rosenstein family has been involved in the fresh produce industry since 1915. Wm. Rosenstein & Sons was founded in in 1930. Today, it is owned and operated by third- and fourth-generation family members. The company is a distributor of a complete line of fruits and vegetables.

Brothers Jay and Philip Rosenstein, president and vice president, respectively, represent the fourth generation. Their sons Jamy, Jeffrey and Doug are now active members in the family businesses, which also include Atlantic Fresh Trading LLC and National Produce Dist.

“Initially we planned to buy Bartolotta’s entire business,” explained Jay Rosenstein. “But we did a very simple math equation and decided that having Kevin with our company, even as a shareholder was better than having him sign a non-compete. He has a good reputation in the industry, which is fitting with how we run our businesses.”

Wm. Rosenstein & Sons and Bartolotta engage in some intertrading. Atlantic Fresh Trading and National Produce Dist. also benefit by selling products from both companies to their perspective customers.

“I was happy for the opportunity to become a part of a bigger organization,” said Bartolotta. “Small brokerage companies are becoming a part of the past. We’re still operating in Torrington under Bartolotta LLC, but now as a satellite company. Jay and his partners wanted to keep my name here because we’ve developed a strong and well-known business over the years.”

Bartolotta added that the majority of his staff has remained the same under the purchase agreement.

“Dana Foster is our sales broker, and Becky Helterbran is my administrative assistant,” said Bartolotta. “Both have been with me for a long time.”