What Southern Specialties does

Southern Specialties, Inc. is a Pompano Beach, Florida-based grower, importer, processor, and distributor of specialty fresh produce, founded in 1990 by Robert Colescott (President and CEO). The company controls an integrated supply chain spanning 10 countries across the Americas (South America, Central America, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada) and offers up to 300 SKUs covering asparagus varieties (green, white, purple, organic), French beans, specialty peas, heirloom tomatoes, specialty lettuces, baby vegetables, tropical fruits and berries, fresh-cut vegetables, and value-added packaged products. Its 150,000-square-foot Pompano Beach headquarters provides temperature-controlled storage, forced-air cooling, ripening, cross-docking, and value-added packaging capabilities, with a complementary San Luis, Arizona distribution facility serving the West Coast and Mexican import flow. Cold-chain and consolidation logistics are delivered through a strategic partnership with Unique Cold Storage.

The company sells through three branded channels: the Southern Selects value-added retail line (microwavable bags, top-seal vegetable medley trays, convenience-packaged produce), extensive private label programs for retailers, and bulk specialty produce for foodservice. Customers include leading North American retail chains, club stores, and foodservice distributors serving white-tablecloth restaurants, hotels, and quick-serve operators. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional investment or acquisition activity. Marketing is conducted through trade shows (PMA Fresh Summit, SEPC Southern Exposure), social media, recipe content partnerships (e.g., Southern Living), and a charitable produce-donation partnership with Brighter Bites. Food safety is verified through NSF Agriculture inspections and SQF certification, and the company claims 100% farm-to-table traceability.

Name

Southern Specialties

Legal name

Southern Specialties, Inc.

Website

https://southernspecialties.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southern Specialties is a Pompano Beach, Florida-based grower, importer, and distributor of specialty fruits and vegetables serving North American retail chains, club stores, and foodservice operators with 300+ SKUs sourced from 10 countries in the Americas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Produce Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing (3114)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Exotic & Specialty Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ethnic & International Foods Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAJ), Ethnic Produce & Specialty Vegetables Wholesale (AFAIAIAD)

Keywords

• Specialty produce distribution
• Fresh vegetable importing
• Asparagus grower supplier
• Value-added produce packaging
• Fresh cut processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Pompano Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Bulk Specialty Produce Sales: Sales of bulk specialty produce items including asparagus (green, white, purple, organic), French beans, specialty peas, heirloom tomatoes, and seasonal vegetables to retailers, club stores, and foodservice distributors
2. Value-Added Products (Southern Selects): Packaged, ready-to-cook specialty produce under Southern Selects brand featuring convenient sizes, microwavable bags, and trend-focused packaging for home consumers
3. Private Label Programs: Extensive private label programs providing retailers and distributors with branded specialty produce under their own labels
4. Processing and Consolidation Services: Fee-based processing, temperature-controlled storage, ripening, cross-docking, and consolidation services for customers seeking efficiencies through one-stop shopping

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southern Specialties is a grower, importer, processor and shipper of specialty fruits and vegetables, offering over 300 SKUs including asparagus varieties, French beans, specialty peas, Brussels sprouts, baby vegetables, heirloom tomatoes, specialty lettuces, tropical fruits and berries, and fresh-cut produce. The company operates the Southern Selects value-added retail brand, supplies extensive private label programs, and provides integrated supply chain services including temperature-controlled storage, ripening, cross-docking and distribution from facilities in Pompano Beach, FL and San Luis, AZ.

Product overview

Southern Specialties is a grower, importer, processor, and shipper of specialty produce operating since 1990. The company offers a portfolio of over 300 SKUs spanning vegetables (asparagus varieties, French beans, specialty peas, Brussels sprouts, baby vegetables), specialty lettuces, heirloom tomatoes, tropical fruits, and fresh cuts. The product portfolio is organized around three main branded offerings: Southern Selects (value-added retail line with convenient packaging for home chefs), private label programs for retailers, and bulk specialty products for foodservice. The company controls all aspects of its supply chain from farm to plate, offering growing, importing, processing, warehousing, and distribution services through its Pompano Beach, Florida headquarters and San Luis, Arizona facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Southern Selects: Value-added specialty produce product line for retail consumers, featuring convenient sizes, microwavable bags, and on-trend produce for home chefs.

Products and services

• Southern Selects Value-Added Specialty Produce Retail consumer brand of packaged, ready-to-cook specialty produce with convenient portion sizes, microwavable bags, and on-trend packaging, sold through retailers and club stores to home chefs seeking restaurant-quality ingredients.
• Private Label Programs Custom private label programs that supply retailers and distributors with specialty produce under their own brands alongside the Southern Selects branded line.
• Asparagus (Green, White, Purple, Organic) Leading grower and importer of fresh asparagus in bulk and value-added presentations, sourced from Peru, Mexico and other Americas locations, with organic asparagus available seasonally.
• French Beans Hand-selected and harvested premium French beans meeting the highest quality standards, sold as a staple to gourmet restaurants and home chefs via retailers.
• Specialty Peas (English, Sugar Snap, Snow) Specialty pea varieties including English Peas, Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas supplied to foodservice operators and retailers.
• Brussels Sprouts Fresh Brussels sprouts sourced from Mexico (February through June) and additional growing regions for foodservice and retail customers.
• Baby Vegetables (Baby Carrots, Baby Rainbow Carrots, Baby Squash, Sweet Baby Broccoli) Premium baby vegetables including hand-peeled baby carrots, baby rainbow carrots, baby squash, and sweet baby broccoli for premium foodservice and retail programs.
• Heirloom Tomatoes (Baby Heirlooms, Heirloom Tomatoes, Yellow Beefsteak) Authentic heirloom tomatoes including baby heirlooms, standard heirloom tomatoes, and yellow beefsteak varieties for foodservice and retail.
• Specialty Lettuces (Radicchio, Belgian Endive, Red Endive, Watercress, Arugula) Specialty lettuce varieties including radicchio, Belgian endive, red endive, watercress and arugula for foodservice and retail.
• Fruits and Berries (Pineapple, Mango, Papaya, Starfruit, Persian Lime, Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Hass Avocado) Tropical and specialty fruits and berries including pineapple, mango, large and golden papaya, starfruit, Persian lime, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and Hass avocados.
• Fresh Cuts and Vegetable Medley Trays Processed fresh-cut vegetables (broccoli, onions, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, tomatoes) and top-seal Vegetable Medley Trays with upright display design for retail and foodservice.
• Integrated Supply Chain Services Fee-based processing, temperature-controlled storage, ripening capabilities, cross-dock operations, consolidation services and distribution for customers seeking one-stop specialty produce supply chain efficiencies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15-20% projected sales growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Brighter BitesminorOthers · 2 January 2019National nonprofit partnership where Southern Specialties donates produce to Brighter Bites' Southwest Florida program, providing two varieties of produce each week to families in need. Brighter Bites tackles childhood obesity by providing low-income families with free fresh produce and nutrition education. Each week families receive approximately 50 servings of 8-12 different fresh produce items along with nutrition education materials.
• Unique Cold StoragecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnique Cold Storage manages handling, consolidation, and shipping for hundreds of orders daily from Southern Specialties' Pompano Beach facility. This is a strategic partner company that provides custom-tailored solutions for the produce industry, ensuring the highest quality care for customers. The partnership enables Southern Specialties to offer temperature-controlled storage, ripening capabilities, and cross-dock operations.
• NSF AgriculturecoreOthersNSF Agriculture conducts inspections to verify Southern Specialties' food safety practices are among the safest in the industry. NSF is an independent, accredited organization that tests and certifies products for food safety and quality.
• Guatemalan Grower CommunitiescoreOthersSouthern Specialties works closely with grower communities, originally founded on expertise in growing specialties in Guatemala. Support includes childcare, education, medical assistance, clean water initiatives, recreational grounds, pharmaceutical programs and savings plans. These partnerships have been in place for decades, long before sustainability became a trend.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Taylor Farms: Largest U.S. fresh-cut/value-added produce processor and grower, with similar foodservice and retail distribution across North America. Directly comparable in fresh-cut vegetable trays, bagged salads, and private-label programs where both companies compete for retailer shelf space.
• The Giumarra Companies: Family-owned grower, packer, and shipper of fresh produce with international sourcing and broad retail/foodservice distribution. Closely matches Southern Specialties' vertically integrated grower-importer-distributor model and family-owned private structure.
• Lipman Family Farms: Vertically integrated specialty produce grower-distributor with strong retail and foodservice penetration across North America. Comparable scale, family-owned structure, and produce portfolio overlap in tomatoes, vegetables, and value-added items.
• Robinson Fresh (C.H. Robinson): Fresh produce sourcing and distribution arm of C.H. Robinson, supplying North American retailers, restaurants, and foodservice operators. Comparable in grower-to-retailer supply chain model and use of third-party cold storage logistics.
• Duda Farm Fresh Foods: Family-owned grower and shipper of fresh vegetables (celery, lettuce, sweet corn, broccoli) with nationwide retail and foodservice reach. Matches Southern Specialties' specialty vegetable focus and private-company, founder-led operating model.
• Earthbound Farm (Taylor Farms): Organic and specialty produce brand owned by Taylor Farms, supplying retailers and foodservice with bagged salads and value-added vegetables. Overlaps with Southern Selects on consumer-facing organic and specialty positioning.
• Mission Produce: Vertically integrated avocado and mango grower-distributor with international sourcing from Mexico, Peru, and California. Comparable in tropical/specialty fruit import business and U.S. retail distribution model, though larger and publicly listed.
• Pure Hothouse Foods (formerly Bonduel): Greenhouse-grown specialty produce (peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuces) supplier to North American retailers and foodservice. Comparable in controlled-environment specialty produce supply and private retail/foodservice distribution model.

Broad incumbents

• Driscoll's: Dominant specialty berry (strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry) grower-distributor with global sourcing and premium retail positioning. Comparable in branded specialty produce retail merchandising, though focused almost exclusively on berries at much larger scale.
• Fresh Del Monte Produce: Public diversified fresh fruit and vegetable producer-distributor with global sourcing across the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Comparable in cross-border produce supply chain to retailers, though vastly larger and broader in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/southernselects
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/southernspecialties
• Facebookfacebook.com/southspecfl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-specialties
• Instagraminstagram.com/southern_selects
• Pinterestpinterest.com/southernselects

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Specialties