“If only it was that simple,” said Rick Feighery, the president of the company since Feb. 1 and a 27-year employee. “Of course, we need to offer high-quality products to our customers but, today, it is also very much about doing everything we can to assist them in any way we can. A lot of things go into making relationships strong between our company and our customers.”
The process is working for Procacci, which was founded in 1948 by Joe and Mike Procacci in the basement of their parent’s home utilizing the philosophy that the key to success was to provide customers with the best product at the best price.
Today, Feighery said that Procacci has become a third-generation, family-owned vertically-integrated grower, shipper and wholesaler that has thrived due to a focus on family, leadership and integrity. The company works with retailers, large and small, restaurants and food service companies from Virginia to New York and into western Pennsylvania.
Procacci has long placed a huge emphasis on the tomatoes category and that segment continues to be one of its signature lines. Feighery, who was, most recently, its vice president of sales for more than 10 years, said that Procacci grows a number of tomato varieties, including heirloom, cherry, Roma, grape and vine-ripe.
The company also grows peppers, cucumbers and squash and offers its products in both organic and convention forms. The company utilizes farms in Florida, California and Mexico.
Feighery said that there are a few key “stepping stones” in the company’s 75-year history that made a huge difference. Most recently, it has been a focus on several key categories that newer consumers in the Philadelphia market and throughout the region that the company serves that are helping Procacci continue to grow.
“We are putting a big emphasis on the tropical, organic and floral categories now,” he noted. “The demographics of our area are constantly changing and we have to change with it and those categories are very popular with those groups. Everything we do is consumer driven and that is why we have to pay such close attention to all the trends.”
Being based in Philadelphia and operating four units at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market has also helped the company and its employees stay in touch with trends. Now, Feighery added that it is even more important.
“The wholesale business is not what it once was, but it is still very important and the Terminal Market plays a huge role for us,” he said. “There is a lot of activity at the market and a lot of knowledge to be gained from operating there. It also helps that we have a great, caring, loyal and dedicated staff that works out of the market.”
He is excited about the future and believes the company is well-positioned for what is to come.
Last November, Procacci opened a new repack facility and Feighery said there are already plans to expand that facility.
