Kaiser International

What Kaiser International does

Kaiser International is a privately held, founder-owned fresh produce sourcing and distribution firm headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois with operational roots in Salinas, California. Founded in 1997 by Steve Kaiser from a third-generation produce family, the company operates with a 14-person team that leverages over 90 years of combined industry experience to source and distribute fresh commodities — primarily carrots, cabbage, onions, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and mixed vegetables — from grower partners across the United States, Canada, and Mexico to retail grocery chains and food service operators.

The firm's core services center on four interconnected pillars: Quality Assurance (in-person farm and processing facility visits), Food Safety (GFSI certification support, HACCP and GS1 trace-back programs, pre-season field assessment), Extensive Coverage (a 30-plus-year North American grower network), and Investments (direct capital deployment into farming operations for recapitalization, balance sheet restructuring, and asset acquisition to secure year-round supply). Operational technology is conventional for the produce trade — traceability and food safety compliance systems rather than proprietary software or AI — and the firm holds no patents, app, or public API. Produce Blue Book Trading Member status since 2005 and memberships in United Fresh, Southeast Produce Council, CPMA, and OPMA provide industry credibility and referral channels.

Kaiser generates revenue through transaction-based produce trading and distribution, acting as an intermediary between growers and buyers with pricing that is quote-based and varies by commodity, volume, seasonality, and customer requirements. GTM is sales-led, relying on direct customer relationships, trade association networks, and the Produce Blue Book referral channel rather than digital marketing or product-led growth. Customer concentration is undisclosed, and there are no named buyer logos in the available data.

Name

Kaiser International

Legal name

Kaiser International

Website

https://kaiser-international.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kaiser International is a privately held, third-generation fresh produce sourcing and distribution firm with a 14-person team that supplies retail grocery chains and food service operators across North America with commodities such as carrots, cabbage, onions, peppers, and cucumbers via its grower network and direct farm investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fresh Produce Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

GFSI Scheme Certification Audits (BRCGS, SQF, FSSC 22000, IFS) (AFALABAA)

Keywords

• Fresh produce distribution
• Produce sourcing services
• Retail produce supply
• Food safety compliance
• Grower partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Salinas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Distribution: Kaiser International generates revenue through the trading and distribution of fresh produce including carrots, cabbage, onions, mixed vegetables, peppers, squash, and cucumbers. The company acts as an intermediary between growers and retail/food service customers, providing sourcing, quality assurance, food safety compliance, and transportation logistics services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kaiser International is a third-generation fresh produce company that sources, distributes, and supplies fresh produce — including carrots, cabbage, mixed vegetables, onions, peppers, squash, and cucumbers — from a network of grower partners to retail grocery chains and food service companies across North America. The company pairs produce trading with Quality Assurance, Food Safety (GFSI certification support, HACCP, GS1 traceability), and direct investment in farming operations to ensure year-round supply and compliance with customer requirements.

Product overview

Kaiser International is a third-generation fresh produce company offering a unified suite of services centered on produce sourcing and distribution throughout North America. The core offerings consist of Quality Assurance, Food Safety, Extensive Coverage (grower relations and sourcing), and Investments services. Their product portfolio includes fresh commodities (Carrots, Cabbage, Mixed Vegetables, Onions, Peppers, Squash, Cucumbers) sourced through their grower network. The services are interconnected: Quality Assurance and Food Safety ensure product safety and specification compliance, while Investments strengthen supply chain reliability, all delivered through their Extensive Coverage network across North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quality Assurance Service
• Food Safety Service Food safety and risk mitigation service for retail and food service customers, including pre-season field assessment, HACCP program implementation, GS1 trace-back program implementation, and assistance for growers in achieving full GFSI Certification and compliance with customer-specific food safety requirements.
• Core Commodities (Fresh Produce) Fresh produce product portfolio consisting of Carrots, Cabbage, Mixed Vegetables, Onions, Peppers, Squash, and Cucumbers, sourced from grower partnerships across North America and supplied to retail grocery chains and food service companies.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Southeast Produce CouncilminorOthersIndustry trade association membership providing networking and educational opportunities within the produce industry.
• United Fresh Produce AssociationminorOthersNational trade association membership for the produce industry, providing industry advocacy and best practice resources.
• Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA)minorOthersTrade association membership connecting with Canadian produce industry members and market opportunities.
• Ontario Produce Marketing Association (OPMA)minorOthersRegional trade association membership in Ontario, Canada for produce industry networking.
• Produce Blue BookcoreOthersTrading Member since 2005. Provides industry verification, credit reporting, and company profiles for the produce industry.
• Grower PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKaiser International invests and partners with various farming and production operations depending on business strength attributes. Partnering for recapitalization, balance sheet restructuring, or asset acquisition. Tailored approach to each situation with direct investment in crops to manage risk for premium customers.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Taylor Farms: A major producer and distributor of fresh-cut vegetables, salads, and fresh produce to retail and foodservice. Comparable to Kaiser in the fresh vegetable space and customer base, though much larger and more vertically integrated.
• Grimmway Farms: One of the largest carrot and vegetable producers in the world, vertically integrated from growing through distribution. Comparable to Kaiser on core commodities (notably carrots) and on the North American distribution model, but at significantly larger scale.
• Earthbound Farm: A major organic produce grower and distributor with broad retail and foodservice distribution. Comparable to Kaiser in fresh produce distribution to retail, though differentiated by organic specialization and organic processing capabilities.
• Driscoll's: A leading grower-shipper of berries and specialty fresh produce sold under a strong brand. Comparable to Kaiser in grower-network-driven fresh produce distribution and similar B2B and retail channels.

Direct peers

• Robinson Fresh: The fresh produce arm of C.H. Robinson, sourcing and distributing fresh fruits and vegetables across North America. Comparable to Kaiser as a fresh produce intermediary between growers and retail/foodservice buyers, supported by extensive grower relationships.
• FreshPoint: A Sysco subsidiary and one of the largest fresh produce distributors in North America, serving foodservice and retail customers with a broad commodity portfolio. Directly comparable to Kaiser in product line (fresh fruits and vegetables) and customer base, but operates at vastly greater scale.
• PRO*ACT: North America's leading distributor of fresh produce to the foodservice industry, operating a network of regional purveyors. Direct competitor in the fresh produce wholesale food service segment that Kaiser targets.
• Tanimura & Antle: A grower-shipper of fresh produce including lettuce, broccoli, and other vegetables, with a family-owned heritage similar to Kaiser. Comparable multi-generational operating heritage and direct-to-retail fresh produce distribution model.
• Duda Farm Fresh Foods: A multi-generational grower and shipper of fresh vegetables and celery, serving retail and foodservice customers. Comparable to Kaiser in family-owned heritage, fresh produce focus, and direct grower-to-buyer distribution.
• Growers Express: A grower-owned cooperative marketing fresh vegetables to retail and foodservice customers. Comparable to Kaiser in fresh produce wholesale distribution with a grower-partnership model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaiser-international

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kaiser International