“Last year we grew our business into states such as Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Tennessee and look forward to this event to learn more about the pain points customers experience in the Southeastern region and how we can support them, as well as continue to introduce Ben B. as a trusted wholesale distributor of high-quality produce to people who may not be familiar with us,” Loupée said. “The Southeastern U.S. is a big growth area for us, and one we plan to push more into throughout 2026.”

In addition to Loupée, team members who will be on hand include Jordan Grainger, vice president of sales and business development; Paul Suttmiller, national account manager; Scott Bagan, director of foodservice sales and Ralph Laderoot, senior buyer.

“Last year, tariffs were a big talking point, and we expect they will be again as it impacts everything from sourcing to pricing,” Loupée said. “However, one of the best aspects of these shows is bringing folks together to talk about the future: what are the problems we’re seeing in the industry and how can we creatively solve them. It’s always a great opportunity to knock heads with other industry professionals and talk openly about the challenges we’re working against and finding innovative solutions.” 

Customers are putting a premium on convenience and want their produce retail- or kitchen-ready without adding another layer in the supply chain, so they are looking for wholesale distributors who can act as a partner, and offer services such as private labelling, bagging and repacking. 

“For customers that are tight on time, budget or labor, having an existing vendor absorb this work is of tremendous value,” Loupée said. “It’s why we offer these services at Ben B., and why we’re always having conversations about what we can do to help make things easier for our customers.” 

Loupée is looking forward to networking at the show but understands that the show isn’t just about bringing in new customers.

“It’s always great to spend time with existing customers and partners to strengthen those relationships, as well as walk away with new leads,” he said. “However, it’s an opportunity for the team to spend time with customers in-person, have productive conversations with peers as well as have a little fun.”

The last few years have been an exciting time at Ben B. “We’ve grown our business in new markets, grown our team and our service offerings and we want to keep this momentum going,” Loupée said. “We look forward to serving new customers and doing what we do best, no fuss, on-time delivery of high-quality produce.”

As Loupée looks out to the rest of 2026, he sees Ben B. continuing to expand operations and noted coming to events like this is an important part of making that happen. 

“We know we’re the new kid on the block in some of these markets, and it’s on us to increase brand awareness in front of audiences who may not know Ben B.,” he said. “That’s why we put our sales team out on the road at these events so potential customers can learn how Ben B. can help them hit their goals and see that we don’t treat these opportunities as transactional, they’re personal.”