Produce Express, Inc.
Produce Express, Inc. is a family-owned Sacramento-based wholesale distributor of fresh produce, dairy, cheese, and pantry items to restaurants, hotels, and caterers across the Greater Sacramento area, operating a 40+ truck fleet for 7-day-a-week delivery since 1984.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Produce Express, Inc. does
Produce Express, Inc. is a family-owned wholesale produce distributor founded in 1984 by Jim "Pops" Boyce and Barbara "Mom" Boyce, headquartered at 8340 Belvedere Ave, Sacramento, California. The company sources fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, an extensive selection of artisan cheese, and a broad assortment of pantry items from a curated network of more than a dozen local Northern California growers and producers (Twin Peaks Orchards, Comanche Creek Farms, J. Marchini Farms, Riverdog Farm, Clover Sonoma, Sierra Nevada Cheese, Point Reyes Farmstead, Cowgirl Creamery, Eduardo's Pasta, and others), and resells those products on a wholesale basis to foodservice operators — restaurants, hotels, and caterers — across the Greater Sacramento area. Operations run from a single depot with warehouse hours starting at 3 a.m. and a 40+ truck fleet delivering 7 days a week; will-call pickup is also offered on-site. Value-added services include custom cutting and packing, low delivery minimums, and a weekly Market Outlook / Market Forecast intelligence publication aimed at chefs.
The business is privately held under continued Boyce-family control following the 2004 leadership transition to Jim "JB" Boyce. Revenue is generated on quote-based, per-order wholesale pricing with no public disclosure. Go-to-market is a hybrid of field sales to foodservice accounts and self-service digital ordering via the Choco mobile/desktop platform, which provides curated, customer-specific order guides and direct chat with office staff. Technology stack is deliberately lightweight: Choco for ordering, Mailchimp for email newsletters, and standard inventory/order management — there are no proprietary software products, APIs, or AI capabilities. The company is USDA certified for food safety and emphasizes local sourcing, sustainability, and long-tenured relationships as its principal differentiators from broadline foodservice distributors.
The addressable market is regional rather than national, the customer base is fragmented across many independent restaurants and caterers (no named enterprise logos are disclosed), and there is no institutional capital, M&A history, or external funding on record. Strategic posture is best characterized as a mature, profitable regional operator extending wallet share within its footprint through assortment breadth (cheese, dairy, pantry), digital ordering convenience, and content-led customer engagement, rather than as a high-growth or technology-led business.
Produce Express, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Produce Express, Inc.
- Legal name
- Produce Express, Inc.
- Website
- https://produceexp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Produce Express, Inc. is a family-owned Sacramento-based wholesale distributor of fresh produce, dairy, cheese, and pantry items to restaurants, hotels, and caterers across the Greater Sacramento area, operating a 40+ truck fleet for 7-day-a-week delivery since 1984.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Produce Express, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Foodservice Distribution
- NAICS
- Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Other Grocery and Related Products Merchant Wholesalers (42449)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fresh Produce Distribution (CRAOABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE), Fresh Cut / Value-Added Produce Wholesale (Pre-Cut, Packaged, Salad Kits) (AFAIACAD)
Keywords
Where Produce Express, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Produce Express, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Wholesale Produce Distribution: Generate revenue through wholesale distribution of fresh produce, dairy, cheese, and pantry items to foodservice professionals including restaurants, hotels, and caterers in the Greater Sacramento area. Products are sold at wholesale pricing with delivery services and will-call pickup options.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Produce Express, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Produce Express is a family-owned wholesale distributor of fresh produce, dairy, cheese, and specialty pantry items serving restaurants, hotels, caterers, and other foodservice operators in the Greater Sacramento area. The company delivers 7 days a week with a fleet of 40+ trucks and offers value-added services including custom cutting and packing, online ordering via the Choco platform, and will-call pickup at its Sacramento location.
Product overview
Produce Express is a family-owned produce wholesaler founded in 1984, operating as a single-location business that serves the Greater Sacramento area. Their core offering consists of fresh produce (vegetables and fruits), dairy products, cheese, and pantry essentials, complemented by value-added services including custom cutting and packing, delivery services with low minimums, and an online ordering platform integrated with Choco. They also publish weekly Market Outlook and Market Forecast reports to keep customers informed about seasonal availability and market conditions. The company operates from Sacramento, CA with warehouse and office hours starting at 3 AM to serve the food service industry.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fresh Produce (Vegetables & Fruits)
Quantifiable outcome
- Deliver fresh produce 7 days a week to Greater Sacramento area
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Produce Express, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Produce Express, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Produce Express, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- ChococoreChoco is a digital ordering platform partner that enables Produce Express customers to place orders online via mobile app or desktop. The platform provides curated order guides based on customer order history, direct chat functionality with Produce Express office staff, and order confirmations. Choco is free for customers to use and requires no setup time.
- Twin Peaks OrchardscoreLocal farm partner supplying stone fruit including yellow and white peaches, nectarines, and organic blood oranges. Part of Produce Express's commitment to local sourcing and supporting regional agriculture.
- Comanche Creek FarmscoreChico, CA farm partner providing heirloom baby mixed lettuce, spring garlic, and other seasonal local produce. Known for hand-harvested greens with exceptional color, texture, and flavor.
- J. Marchini FarmscoreLocal farm partner supplying chicories including radicchio, treviso, and castel franco varieties. Part of the local chicory sourcing program.
- Riverdog FarmcoreLocal farm partner supplying spring onions, Bloomsdale spinach, and other seasonal produce. Part of the commitment to local partnerships.
- Clover SonomasupportingDairy supplier providing milk (whole, 2%, fat-free), half & half, heavy cream, and butter products sourced from local California dairy farms.
- Sierra Nevada Cheese Co.supportingLocal cheese producer supplying goat cheese products including Chèvre and aged goat cheddar. Known for traditional cheesemaking techniques.
- Point Reyes FarmsteadsupportingArtisan cheese maker supplying Bay Blue cheese and Original Point Reyes blue cheese, crafted in California from cow's milk.
- Cowgirl CreamerysupportingMarin County-based creamery supplying Mt Tam triple-cream Brie made from organic cow's milk sourced from Marin County.
- Eduardo's PastasupportingSan Francisco artisan pasta maker producing dried egg pasta for over 40 years using semolina and wheat flours with local farm eggs. Won San Francisco Chronicle's 2001 Taster's Choice and inducted into Hall of Fame.
- Dwelley FarmscoreBrentwood, CA farm partner supplying locally grown cranberry beans and Blue Lake beans during summer season.
- Alemaya FarmsupportingLocal farm partner supplying Bloomsdale spinach and spring garlic as part of the local produce program.
- Field Fresh FarmssupportingWatsonville, CA farm partner supplying spring mix lettuce and baby spinach for year-round availability.
- Flower FarmsupportingLocal farm partner supplying blood oranges, Meyer lemons, and citrus products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Produce Express, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FreshPoint: Sysco-owned specialty fresh-produce distributor focused exclusively on fruits, vegetables, and fresh items to restaurants, hotels, and caterers. The closest direct peer to Produce Express in product scope and foodservice customer base, though operating regionally across much larger territories.
- ProPacific Fresh: Northern California produce distributor serving restaurants, schools, and foodservice operators from Durham, CA. A closely comparable regional peer to Produce Express with overlapping Sacramento/Northern California footprint and similar customer mix.
- Baldor Specialty Foods: Specialty fresh-produce and artisanal foods distributor serving chefs and foodservice operators with premium produce, dairy, and pantry. Closely comparable to Produce Express in product mix, foodservice focus, and value-added cut/portion services.
Broad incumbents
- Sysco: Largest U.S. broadline foodservice distributor, offering produce alongside a full grocery assortment to restaurants and institutions. Comparable to Produce Express as the dominant incumbent in the same customer category, though vastly larger and geographically diversified.
- US Foods: National broadline foodservice distributor serving restaurants, hotels, and healthcare operators with produce, dairy, protein, and pantry. Directly comparable end customers and overlapping product mix, though at national scale versus Produce Express's regional focus.
- Performance Food Group: Major U.S. foodservice distributor with broad product lines including fresh produce, serving independent restaurants and chains. Comparable foodservice distribution model and customer base to Produce Express.
- Shamrock Foods Company: Family-owned broadline foodservice distributor serving the Southwest U.S. with produce, dairy, and grocery. Comparable family-owned heritage, customer base, and broad product assortment to Produce Express, though operating across multiple states.
- Gordon Food Service: Large family-founded broadline foodservice distributor operating across North America with fresh and center-of-plate categories. Comparable to Produce Express in serving independent restaurants and family ownership heritage, but at significantly greater scale.
Regional players
- Earl's Organic Produce: Bay Area wholesale organic produce distributor serving chefs and retailers with a curated local and organic assortment. Comparable to Produce Express in local-sourcing focus and chef customer base, though operating in a different Northern California metro.
Emerging players
- Christopher Ranch: California-based garlic and specialty produce grower/shipper supplying foodservice and retail. Comparable as a California-grown supplier feeding into foodservice channels that Produce Express serves, though primarily a producer rather than a full-line distributor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Produce Express, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceProduce Express, Inc. compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Produce Express, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Produce Express, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Produce Express, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Produce Express, Inc. 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 Produce Express, Inc.
What does Produce Express, Inc. do?
Produce Express is a family-owned wholesale distributor of fresh produce, dairy, cheese, and specialty pantry items serving restaurants, hotels, caterers, and other foodservice operators in the Greater Sacramento area. The company delivers 7 days a week with a fleet of 40+ trucks and offers value-added services including custom cutting and packing, online ordering via the Choco platform, and will-call pickup at its Sacramento location.
Is Produce Express, Inc. a public or private company?
Produce Express, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Produce Express, Inc. founded?
Produce Express, Inc. was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Produce Express, Inc. based?
Produce Express, Inc. is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does Produce Express, Inc. make money?
One revenue line is on record: wholesale Produce Distribution.
Who are Produce Express, Inc.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FreshPoint, ProPacific Fresh and Baldor Specialty Foods. Broad incumbents are Sysco, US Foods, Performance Food Group, Shamrock Foods Company and Gordon Food Service. Earl's Organic Produce is listed as a regional player. Christopher Ranch is listed as an emerging player.
Does Produce Express, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Produce Express, Inc..
What industry is Produce Express, Inc. in?
Produce Express, Inc.'s product category is Foodservice Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOABAB, Fresh Produce Distribution, with a secondary code of AFAIABAE, Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables). Its NAICS code is 424480 and its SIC code is 5140.