What McEntire Produce Inc does

McEntire Produce Inc operates the Fresh Express brand, a US-based fresh produce processing and packaging company that manufactures ready-to-eat salad kits, salad greens, salad bowl kits, and organic salad products for consumer retail distribution. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Columbia, SC (with Fresh Express consumer operations anchored in Salinas, CA), the company employs 501-1000 people and supplies national grocery chains across the United States. Its product portfolio centers on pre-washed, pre-cut chopped salad kits in multiple chef-inspired flavor profiles (Tropical Mango Crunch, Zesty Hawaiian Crunch, Creamy Mushroom Caesar, Italian Herb & Parmesan, Orange Sesame, Creamy Goddess), supplemented by salad greens, salad bowl kits, an organic product line, and a co-branded Chiquita Bites fruit snack range developed in partnership with Chiquita.

The business operates as a consumer packaged goods brand sold through traditional grocery retail channels, with revenue generated from one-time sales of finished packaged goods rather than subscriptions or licensing. Consumers are directed to a 'Where To Buy' locator on the website to find products at nearby retail locations; pricing is set at retail rather than directly by Fresh Express. The company invests in consumer marketing across an unusually broad channel mix — a recipe-driven content website, the Fresh Expressionists chef program, a crave-tool recipe finder, the Fresh Rewards Club email loyalty program, and active presence across eight social media platforms including Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Threads, and TikTok — supplemented by a 1-800 consumer response center.

The underlying technology is fresh produce processing: washing, cutting, blending, and packaging greens with toppings, crunch elements, and dressings into shelf-ready kits designed for immediate consumption without preparation. The company holds no public funding, no disclosed parent ownership, no M&A history, and no AI or digital platform infrastructure beyond the consumer-facing website and email program. Its strategic emphasis is on brand-driven product line extension, category marketing, and retail shelf presence rather than technology-led differentiation.

Name

McEntire Produce Inc

Legal name

Fresh Express, Incorporated

Website

https://mcentireproduce.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

McEntire Produce Inc, doing business as Fresh Express, is a US fresh produce processor and consumer packaged goods brand that manufactures ready-to-eat salad kits, greens, bowls, and co-branded fruit snacks for sale through national grocery retail chains serving health-conscious and convenience-seeking consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consumer Packaged Goods Sales: Fresh Express generates revenue through the sale of pre-packaged salad kits, salad greens, and snack products to retail consumers via grocery stores and supermarkets. Products are sold as finished consumer goods through traditional retail distribution.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

McEntire Produce Inc, operating as Fresh Express, processes and packages fresh produce — primarily pre-washed, pre-cut chopped salad kits, salad kits, salad greens, salad bowl kits, and organic products — for sale to retail consumers through national grocery chains. The company also co-markets Chiquita Bites fruit snacks through a brand partnership with Chiquita, and distributes across major U.S. retail grocery banners.

Product overview

Fresh Express (McEntire Produce Inc) offers a portfolio of fresh, ready-to-eat salad products organized into product categories: Chopped Salad Kits, Salad Kits, Salad Greens, Salad Bowl Kits, and Organic products. The product line centers on pre-packaged, pre-chopped salad kits that combine fresh greens with toppings, crunch elements, and dressings. Featured products include specific flavor varieties such as Tropical Mango Crunch, Zesty Hawaiian Crunch, Creamy Mushroom Caesar, Italian Herb & Parmesan, Orange Sesame, and Creamy Goddess Chopped Salad Kits. Additionally, through a partnership with Chiquita, the company offers Chiquita Bites — bite-sized fruit snacks. The products are distributed through retail channels and are available for consumer purchase at various retail locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chiquita Bites: Snack product line - bite-sized snacks co-branded with Chiquita, featuring banana and fruit-based healthy snacks
• Fresh Rewards Club

Products and services

• Tropical Mango Crunch Chopped Salad Kit

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ChiquitacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh Express and Chiquita have formed a strategic partnership to develop and distribute Chiquita Bites - bite-sized fruit snack products. The partnership combines Fresh Express's fresh produce expertise with Chiquita's brand recognition in the banana/fruit market. The products are marketed as nourishing, healthy snacks suitable for families and marketed through both Fresh Express and Chiquita channels.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ready Pac Foods (Bonduel): Ready Pac (Bonduel) manufactures bagged salads, snack cups, and fresh meal kits for major US grocers. It is a direct competitor in pre-packaged, ready-to-eat salads with overlapping retail customers.
• Taylor Farms: Taylor Farms is the largest US processor of fresh-cut salads and chopped kits, sold through the same national grocery channels as Fresh Express. It is the most direct competitor in pre-packaged, ready-to-eat salads and meal kits.
• Earthbound Farm: Earthbound Farm (owned by Danone) is a pioneer and leader in organic packaged salads and salad kits. It competes head-on with Fresh Express in the organic and conventional retail-bagged salad segment.
• Tanimura & Antle: Tanimura & Antle is a vertically integrated grower-shipper of fresh leafy greens and pre-packaged salads serving US retail and foodservice. It competes directly with Fresh Express in fresh-cut packaged salads.

Broad incumbents

• Dole plc: Dole is a broad incumbent in fresh produce with branded chopped salad kits, salad blends, and frozen fruit sold in the same grocery aisles as Fresh Express. Its diversified portfolio overlaps with Fresh Express in fresh salads and snack fruit.
• Grimmway Farms: Grimmway Farms is the largest US carrot producer and a major fresh and organic vegetable supplier across retail. It is adjacent but competes in fresh-cut vegetable and organic categories overlapping with Fresh Express.
• Driscoll's: Driscoll's is the leading branded berry producer with growing packaged fruit and convenience snacks business. Its branded fresh fruit presence in retail overlaps with the Chiquita Bites/healthy-snacking adjacency pursued by Fresh Express.
• Bonduel (Bonduelle Group): Bonduelle owns Ready Pac in North America and is a global leader in processed vegetables and bagged salads. It is a broad international incumbent competing with Fresh Express in packaged fresh salads and value-added vegetables.

Emerging players

• Organic Girl: Organic Girl focuses on organic packaged salads, protein kits, and fresh greens. It targets the same health-conscious retail consumer as Fresh Express, particularly in the organic segment.
• Sugar Creek Packing: Sugar Creek Packing produces fresh-cut, pre-washed leafy greens and salad kits for retail and foodservice. It is an emerging player directly comparable to Fresh Express in packaged salad processing capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FreshUpdates
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Freshexpress
• Facebookfacebook.com/FreshExpressSalads
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcentire-produce-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/yourfreshexpresssalad
• Pinterestpinterest.com/freshexpress
• TikToktiktok.com/@yourfreshexpresssalad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 McEntire Produce Inc