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Exp Group LLC has established a niche in tropicals

By
Keith Loria

With more than 40 years of experience distributing fresh produce on the East Coast, Exp Group LLC continues to grow its network of production, importation and distribution of tropical fruits and vegetables from both Central and South America.

exp groupIt has also implemented a robust food-safety program from domestic and foreign farms up to its warehouse.

“We are growing,” said Anthony Serafino, executive vice president for the North Bergen, NJ-based company. “It’s been a strange year because of the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve been on a good trajectory for growth, so pandemic or not, we were lucky enough to have been allowed to operate being an essential business.”

It’s not just COVID-19 that’s presented challenges to the company lately.

“Labor is tough to come by now,” Serafino said. “Retailers are starting to rev up, we’re getting into the warmer months, the population is getting vaccinated and people are feeling more secure. Business is picking up, and I see the restaurant sector growing, but we need people.”

For instance, the trucking shortage across the U.S., is impacting the company, as Exp Group LLC is just one of many companies out there looking for safe and responsible drivers.

“We’re hiring and looking for good employees to add to our staff, pandemic or not, and we’re seeing more open positions than qualified candidates to fill them up,” Serafino said. “We are a volume company; we’re not moving boxes, we’re moving pallets and containers.”

The company is mainly a tropical supplier, though it delves into some other commodities, and is expecting big things in the category in 2021.

“Tropical has always been our niche,” Serafino said. “It’s been an up-and-down year as far as ginger, and we’re starting to see that market go up. Plantains hit its bottom a few weeks ago and we’re starting to see them operate at a shortage in Ecuador. So, prices at the source are going up and that will be reflected here at the market.”

He expects things to get a little tight as tropicals enter the second quarter, which is typically strong for the segment. He shared papaya prices are rising, yuca is turning around, chayotes is the same way out of Costa Rica, and the company is managing all of this and the plantain shortage.

“Usually, we use schools and the summer vacations as a litmus test,” Serafino said. “I have a belief that this is going to be a very busy year for tropicals. The people in this country have this pent up demand and want to exert that pent up demand, so we’re going to see tropical shortages, shipping costs on the rise and rising prices.”

Exp Group LLC has built a reputation as a world-class tropical house and works to educate their customers on the benefits of selling tropical commodities.

“We like to promote our own brands from certain countries of origin, our products, and our commodities, so customers and clienteles can assimilate that brand with us as a supplier,” Serafino said.

Behind the scenes, the company recently added a new director of safety and some other new employees as it prepares for the growth it sees ahead.

“We’re growing methodically and we’re growing the right way,” Serafino said. “My father has a high standard and the Serafinos have a special way of going about things. I try to convey that to our employees and our team.”

 

 

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