Riggio Distribution enters 2026 with strong demand
Riggio Distribution enters 2026 with strong demand
Detroit-based Riggio Distribution Co. is starting 2026 with confidence, momentum and a steady market that reflects both the region’s resilience and the company’s decades-long reputation for reliability.
For Dominic Riggio, the company’s leader and part of a family legacy that has supported the Midwest produce trade for generations, the tone of the year has been decidedly optimistic.
“Demand has been very good as we start 2026,” Riggio said. “Historically January has always been a good month.”
Across nearly every commodity, the company is seeing solid pull at the start of the year.
“We have seen good momentum across all categories,” Riggio said. “Our team does a great job making sure that we keep product moving and managing the forces of supply and demand.”
That strong opening follows a 2025 marked by shifting weather patterns, unpredictable transportation costs and ongoing pressure on labor and logistics, factors that Riggio Distribution navigated with the consistency that Detroit retailers and foodservice operators have long depended on.
Weather, often the unpredictable variable in produce, has been largely cooperative heading into the new year. While challenges always exist somewhere in the growing regions, Riggio noted conditions have been steady enough to keep volume and pricing manageable.
“Weather and crop conditions have been relatively stable for the early part of 2026,” he said. “There is always weather challenges somewhere, but overall, it has been mostly steady.”
As 2026 begins, Detroit’s retail and foodservice buyers are—as always—focused on value, quality and dependable service. While other markets around the country may be seeing spikes in organics, novel varietals, or convenience-driven SKUs, Riggio said that, at the core, Detroit customers haven’t wavered in what they expect.
“Consumer preferences in our market have been very consistent,” he said. “Top quality, fair pricing and great service. Shifts in varieties and packaging come and go, but quality, cost and service will always be what keeps the customers.”
That consistency shapes how the company invests in operations and infrastructure. While Riggio didn’t go into specifics, he shared that the company’s biggest ongoing investment is in the processes and people who keep product flowing in an environment where costs can fluctuate quickly.
“Maintaining consistent supply while managing all of the associated costs is our daily challenge,” he said. “Our collective teams are consistently working with our suppliers of product and transportation to keep our customers supplied with top quality produce at competitive prices.”
A major reason Riggio Distribution can maintain that consistency is the strength of its long-term grower and supplier relationships. Many of the company’s partnerships span decades and function as true extensions of their business.
“Our suppliers are an extension of our business; our customers benefit from these relationships, the benefit of quality and consistency of the brands and labels that we sell,” Riggio said.
In the months ahead, Riggio Distribution expects continued growth in several categories, driven by the diverse mix of customers it serves across the Midwest and beyond.
“Our customers consist of national retail chain stores, independent retailers, broadline distributors, independent foodservice wholesalers and food manufacturers,” Riggio said. “That broad base allows us to adapt as each segment faces its own pressures and opportunities throughout the year.”
Ultimately, Riggio Distribution’s outlook remains grounded in the foundational principles that have defined the company for generations.
“Our customers can expect Riggio Distribution to continue to work with our suppliers to provide the best product, pricing, and service that we have built our business on for many years,” Riggio said.
