“This year has been all about expansion at Ben B. as we’ve increased our distribution radius and services. This show is a great opportunity for us to think about what comes next, and have conversations about what customers need, what challenges growers are facing, what commodities are rising and falling and more so we can be the best possible partner.”

Among the Ben B. team who will be in attendance are Drew and Jake Billmeyer, Ben B’s owners; Bill Loupée, chief operating officer; merchandisers Ralph Laderoot and Sean Serra; and Grainger. “This is a great show to connect with our existing grower network and also establish new connections,” he said. “We’re excited to sponsor this year’s 5K run. Aside from a nutritious diet of plentiful fresh produce, exercise is another key part of wellness, so it’s a great event we’re proud to be a part of.”

 One of the biggest trends Ben B. is seeing in the industry is an increased demand for value-add services, and within that come more sustainable options.

“Being able to source high-quality commodities at any time is only filling a basic need for the customer,” Grainger said. “Now, more companies need that produce delivered in different ways, whether it’s repacked, bagged, pre-cut or re-labeled. That’s a big focus for us, taking the pressure away from our customers, and making it part of the Ben B. experience.”

As part of that, the company is also making sure to offer eco-friendly options, particularly with recyclable and responsible materials for bags or packaging.

“There’s a big urge to remove plastic waste, and we’re doing what we can to support that effort,” Grainger said.  

Another topic of conversation at the show is sure to be tariffs.

“Tariffs are surely on everyone’s mind still, and it’s important to discuss how they are impacting everyone across the supply chain, from growing to purchasing, so as wholesale distributors we can find ways to reduce the downstream impact,” Grainger said. “We’re also curious to hear how produce demand is shifting on-the-ground in different regions across the U.S.; how tariffs and rising costs are potentially influencing consumer buying decisions.”

When the show is over, Grainger noted that if the company has left with renewed connections and good ideas, and hopefully helped others in return, then it was a success.

“We hope we’re able to meet with new and prospective customers to have frank dialogue about their pain points and what we can do to solve them, as well as talk with other peers about the challenges we’re seeing in logistics to chat about how we can overcome them together,” Grainger said. “We’re in a relationships-based business. Ben B. was founded by a family, is still run by one, and family is exactly how we treat our employees and customers. Getting face-to-face with peers and customers is important for establishing trust and having honest conversations about how we can collectively help our industry thrive.”

Growth is the big buzz at Ben B. In the past year, the company has expanded distribution to North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri. Ben B. is looking at adding even more routes in the future.

“We’ve made investments in our technology and marketing efforts to make sure we’re operating as efficiently as possible, all while still delivering the high-quality product and service our customers have come to expect,” Grainger said. “For 2026, we’d like to focus on expanding our distribution radius even more and make the name Ben B. synonymous with the best produce distribution in our existing markets and beyond.”