Panama Banana
Panama Banana is a Chicago-based wholesale distributor of fresh produce, founded in 1925, serving retail grocers, food service companies, produce jobbers, and national chain stores across the U.S. from the Chicago International Produce Market with integrated cold-chain, ripening, repacking, and logistics services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1925
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Panama Banana does
Panama Banana is a Chicago-based wholesale distributor of fresh produce operating from the Chicago International Produce Market since 1925. The company sources fruits and vegetables from international and domestic growers and supplies retail grocers, food service companies, produce jobbers and brokers, and national chain stores across the United States. Its core operations are anchored in a state-of-the-art facility featuring ripening rooms, cold coolers, climate-controlled docks, and an in-house refrigerated trucking fleet with GPS-equipped trucks, enabling integrated cold-chain management from receiving through delivery.
The company offers a suite of complementary services beyond pure distribution: temperature-controlled storage and ripening (including ambient and controlled-atmosphere storage for delicate produce), cross-docking that moves product directly from inbound to outbound trucks, custom repacking and packaging with private label capabilities at no extra cost (including plastic-free clipped bags), and logistics services utilizing team-driving for long-haul transport. These services are delivered through a department-structured sales organization covering Fruit, Potatoes/Onions/Hot House/Herbs, Avocados/Hispanic Items, Tomatoes, and Value Added/Repacked Items.
Panama Banana generates revenue through transaction-fee-based wholesale distribution, ripening and storage services, repacking and packaging, and logistics services, with quote-based pricing across all four streams. In May 2023, the company was acquired by FreshEdge, a Wind Point Partners-backed platform of fresh food distributors, positioning Panama Banana as FreshEdge's Midwest anchor. The Pappas family (fourth generation) retains operational leadership roles, including Todd Pappas as President and Deke Pappas as COO, while Nick Florek serves as VP/General Manager. The company holds USDA certification and Global GAP certification, supporting sales into national chain and food service accounts.
Panama Banana firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Panama Banana
- Legal name
- Panama Banana
- Website
- https://panamabanana.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1925
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Panama Banana is a Chicago-based wholesale distributor of fresh produce, founded in 1925, serving retail grocers, food service companies, produce jobbers, and national chain stores across the U.S. from the Chicago International Produce Market with integrated cold-chain, ripening, repacking, and logistics services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Panama Banana is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Panama Banana business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Produce Wholesale Distribution: Revenue generated from wholesale distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables to retail grocers, foodservice companies, and national chain stores throughout the U.S.
- Storage and Ripening Services: Fee-based storage and ripening services for customers' produce, maintaining optimal conditions until delivery.
- Repacking and Packaging Services: Custom packaging and repacking services including private labeling, weight/count-based packaging, and value-added services.
- Logistics and Transportation: Refrigerated transport and logistics services for produce distribution with GPS-equipped trucks and team-driving approach.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Wholesale produce pricing for retail grocers, restaurants, and businesses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Panama Banana product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Panama Banana is a Chicago-based wholesaler and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables supplying retail grocers, foodservice companies, produce brokers/jobbers, and national chain stores across the U.S. The company combines wholesale produce distribution with integrated supply chain services—temperature-controlled storage and ripening, cross-docking, custom repacking/private-label packaging, and refrigerated trucking—operating from a state-of-the-art facility in the Chicago International Produce Market.
Product overview
Panama Banana is a produce wholesaler and distributor operating from the Chicago International Produce Market since 1925. The company combines fresh produce distribution with integrated supply chain services, including storage and ripening facilities, cross-docking, custom repacking and packaging with private label options, and temperature-controlled logistics. The company serves retail grocery stores, food service companies, produce jobbers, brokers, and wholesale customers across the U.S., leveraging state-of-the-art facilities with ripening rooms, cold coolers, and climate-controlled docks to maintain cold-chain integrity from receiving through delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fresh Produce Distribution
Quantifiable outcome
- State-of-the-art facility maintains cold chain throughout entire process of unloading and reloading
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Panama Banana
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Panama Banana technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Panama Banana partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FreshEdgecoreFreshEdge, a family of best-in-class fresh food distribution companies backed by Wind Point Partners, acquired Panama Banana. Panama joins FreshEdge's growing group of customer-obsessed distributors, expanding FreshEdge's Midwest presence. Panama maintains its operations and continues to serve customers with the same commitment to freshness, quality, and service.
- International and Domestic GrowerscoreStrong partnerships with international and domestic growers allow Panama to acquire the freshest products from sources they know and trust. Partnership with finest growers from around the world provides best selection of highest quality produce in the Midwest.
- Blue Book ServicesminorIndustry affiliation through Blue Book Services produce industry credit reporting and brokerage network.
- Global GAPminorGlobal GAP certification partner - internationally recognized farm assurance program for safe and sustainable agriculture.
- Primus LabsminorPrimus Labs food safety auditing and certification services for produce industry.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)minorUSDA certified partner ensuring compliance with federal agricultural standards.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Panama Banana competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FreshPoint: FreshPoint is Sysco's specialty produce distribution subsidiary and is the most direct analog to Panama Banana: a regional fresh-fruit-and-vegetable wholesaler offering ripening, cross-docking, and private-label pack/label services to retail and foodservice accounts across multiple US metros.
- Mastronardi Produce: Mastronardi Produce is one of the largest greenhouse-grown produce companies in North America, distributing fresh fruits and vegetables (including berries and specialty items) through similar retail and foodservice channels as Panama Banana.
- Taylor Fresh Foods: Taylor Fresh Foods operates a vertically integrated fresh-produce platform spanning grower relationships, value-added packaging, and distribution. Comparable to Panama in produce variety, private-label packaging, and retail/foodservice customer orientation.
- Baldor Specialty Foods: Baldor is a regional specialty produce and broad-line foodservice distributor with ripening, repacking, and value-added capabilities serving the Northeast. Its service mix and customer overlap with mid/high-end retail and foodservice buyers make it a strong functional comparable.
- Robinson Fresh: Robinson Fresh is the produce arm of C.H. Robinson, sourcing, ripening, and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables to retail, foodservice, and wholesale customers — directly comparable to Panama's full-line distribution and cold-chain offering.
Broad incumbents
- Sysco: Sysco is the largest US broadline foodservice distributor and the parent of FreshPoint. While Sysco's broader portfolio goes far beyond produce, it competes directly with Panama for retail and foodservice produce supply contracts at national accounts.
- Fresh Del Monte Produce: Fresh Del Monte is a global, vertically integrated producer, transporter, and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables. It competes with Panama in sourcing, ripening, and distribution of bananas, pineapples, melons, and other categories across the same retail/foodservice customers.
- US Foods: US Foods is one of the largest US broadline foodservice distributors, with a sizable fresh-produce capability. It overlaps with Panama in retail-grocer and foodservice produce supply, particularly at larger national chains.
- KeHE Distributors: KeHE is a large specialty food and beverage distributor with a meaningful fresh-produce portfolio and a comparable emphasis on retail and foodservice accounts. Its nationwide reach and value-added services overlap with Panama's offering at a larger scale.
Regional players
- Gordon Food Service: Gordon Food Service is a privately held, family/PE-influenced broadline foodservice distributor with strong Midwest footprint — directly competing with Panama for retail-grocery and foodservice fresh produce volume in the same regional customer base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Panama Banana social profiles
Digital presencePanama Banana compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Panama Banana financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Panama Banana leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Panama Banana funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Panama Banana M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Panama Banana
What does Panama Banana do?
Panama Banana is a Chicago-based wholesaler and distributor of fresh fruits and vegetables supplying retail grocers, foodservice companies, produce brokers/jobbers, and national chain stores across the U.S. The company combines wholesale produce distribution with integrated supply chain services—temperature-controlled storage and ripening, cross-docking, custom repacking/private-label packaging, and refrigerated trucking—operating from a state-of-the-art facility in the Chicago International Produce Market.
Is Panama Banana a public or private company?
Panama Banana is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Panama Banana founded?
Panama Banana was founded in 1925. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Panama Banana based?
Panama Banana is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Panama Banana make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Produce Wholesale Distribution is the primary driver. The others are storage and Ripening Services, repacking and Packaging Services and logistics and Transportation.
Who are Panama Banana's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FreshPoint, Mastronardi Produce, Taylor Fresh Foods, Baldor Specialty Foods and Robinson Fresh. Broad incumbents are Sysco, Fresh Del Monte Produce, US Foods and KeHE Distributors. Gordon Food Service is listed as a regional player.
Does Panama Banana have an API?
No public API is recorded for Panama Banana.