Southern Specialties can’t wait to meet with friends at Southern Exposure
The Southeast Produce Council’s annual Southern Exposure show is always a highlight of the year for produce professionals. The 2021 edition of the event offers people in the industry the opportunity to actually be in the same room with each other and the people at Southern Specialties are looking forward to it more than ever.
“We are so excited to be able to see and talk to our customers and industries members live and in person,” said Charlie Eagle, vice president of business and development for Southern Specialties, based in Pompano Beach, FL. “It’s exciting and it makes what is a great annual event even more exciting. Many companies have had an opportunity to showcase what they’ve been doing virtually this year, but the Southeast Produce Council show in Orlando, FL, is the first opportunity that we have had to personally meet and greet customers, vendors and council members live and in person in a long time.”
He added that while virtual meetings are effective, in-person interactions can bring things to a different level, as they encourage personal discussions and in-depth conversations about shared experiences.
“This is just a wonderful opportunity to get together and also, at the same time, promote the Southeast Produce Council,” Eagle said.
Southern Specialties will be at booth No. 310 at the show, where Eagle and account managers from the company will talk about products the company imports and distributes, as well as its line of value-added produce for food service and whole sellers. Southern Specialties also will participate in the virtual event by having team members answer questions from potential customers from the Pompano Beach headquarters.
Southern Specialties has been a presence at SEPC’s Southern Exposure show from the beginning, and Eagle noted the event has grown significantly over the years.
“Today, this is probably the most sought-after show to participate in, and there is a waiting list every year of companies from around the country that are interested in participating,” he said.
It has been of particular importance to Southern Specialties. “The Southeast is our home base, and the Southeast Produce Council has enabled us, through participation in its show, to reach out to customers that we do business with on a daily basis, to gain a new customer base and also make new friends,” Eagle said.
Asparagus is a key item for the company, as it is recognized as a top-tier grower and importer of fresh asparagus into the United States and offers a variety of pack styles and pack size.
Eagle noted that Southern Specialties has a diversified customer base and that it has fared reasonably well during the pandemic.
“The foodservice portion of our business has been the most traumatically affected, and we are excited about the prospect of the food service sector coming back,” he said. “We’re seeing restaurants reopening, we’re seeing hotels do more business, we’re hearing about cruise lines that are making plans to resume. We’re looking forward, we’re not looking back, and we’re planning on robust growth as the months progress.”
