Shapiro Produce

What Shapiro Produce does

Shapiro Produce (legal name Don Shapiro Produce) is a privately held, family-owned fresh produce distributor headquartered at 15 Commercial Street, Everett, Massachusetts. Founded in 1950 by Donald Shapiro with a $50 loan from his father, the company purchases more than 600 fresh produce items daily from the New England Produce Market, inspects product at every purchase point, and delivers directly to more than 250 retailers across five New England states using its own fleet of refrigerated trucks. The current leadership team comprises CEO David Shapiro and Officer Scott Domineau; headcount is 11 employees.

The company operates an integrated distribution platform covering purchasing, sales/merchandising, cold-chain transportation with 24/7 temperature monitoring, and multi-channel customer service (online, email, fax, phone). Product lines extend beyond commodity fresh produce into Organic Certified items, fresh-cut fruits and vegetables cut to presale order, fully merchandised bulk goods, non-perishable and seasonal items, and over 100 locally sourced New England items from partnered growers and manufacturers. The company holds Organic Certified Distributor status and Primus GFS certification.

Revenue is generated transactionally through the sale and distribution of fresh produce and associated goods to retail customers; pricing is negotiated by volume and product type rather than via published tiers. Go-to-market is sales-led, anchored on direct account management, in-store merchandising support, ad planning, and weekly ad calendar services. The marketing posture relies on direct customer relationships and the company's 50+ year reputation for quality, service, and integrity rather than paid acquisition channels. No institutional investors, parent company, or external funding is disclosed.

Name

Shapiro Produce

Legal name

Don Shapiro Produce

Website

https://shapiroproduce.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shapiro Produce is a family-owned fresh produce distributor headquartered in Everett, Massachusetts that purchases 600+ items daily and delivers via an owned cold-chain truck fleet to 250+ retailers across five New England states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wholesale Produce Distribution

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (42448)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140), Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Fresh Produce Wholesale Distribution (CRAOAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fresh Produce Wholesale (Fruit & Vegetables) (AFAIABAE)

Keywords

• Fresh produce distribution
• Wholesale produce supply
• Cold chain logistics
• Retail produce merchandising
• Organic produce distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Everett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Distribution: Shapiro Produce generates revenue through the distribution and sale of fresh produce items to retail customers. The company purchases over 600 fresh produce items daily from growers, inspects product at every purchase point, and delivers to retailers. Additional revenue comes from fresh cut fruits and vegetables, bulk goods merchandising, and non-perishable/seasonal items.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Shapiro Produce is a wholesale distributor of fresh produce that purchases over 600 items daily from growers at the New England Produce Market and delivers them to more than 250 retail customers across five New England states. The company bundles its distribution with merchandising, ad planning, store set-up, and cold-chain delivery services using its own fleet of trucks and 24/7 temperature monitoring.

Product overview

Shapiro Produce is a produce distribution company serving New England for over 50 years, offering an integrated suite of services including purchasing, sales, transportation, and customer service. The company distributes 600+ fresh produce items daily, sourced from national growers and local New England partners. Core offerings include fresh produce, organic certified products, fresh cut fruits and vegetables, bulk goods merchandising, and non-perishable/seasonal items. The company operates as a single integrated platform serving over 250 retailers across five states, combining daily purchasing expertise, cold chain logistics, and multi-channel ordering capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fresh Produce (600+ items)

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Local Growers and ManufacturerscoreOthersShapiro Produce maintains partnerships with local growers and manufacturers in New England, sourcing over 100 items produced locally. These partnerships enable the company to offer fresh, regionally-produced products alongside their national sourcing capabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• FreshPoint: Sysco's specialty fresh produce distribution subsidiary operating across the US with strong Northeast presence. Directly comparable as a fresh produce wholesaler delivering to foodservice and retail customers with cold-chain capabilities.
• M. Cutone Wholesale Produce: Family-owned wholesale produce distributor serving retailers and foodservice operators across New England. Closely comparable given similar regional New England footprint, independent ownership profile, and produce-focused distribution model.
• Baldor Specialty Foods: Specialty fresh produce, dairy, and protein distributor serving restaurants and retailers in the Northeast US. Highly comparable as a regional fresh-produce wholesaler offering cold-chain logistics, value-added fresh-cut items, and a focus on quality and provenance.
• Sid Wainer & Son: Fourth-generation specialty produce and gourmet food distributor based in New England serving restaurants, hotels, and retailers. Comparable as a family-owned specialty fresh-produce distributor with strong regional brand and value-added assortment.
• Bozzuto's: Northeast-based wholesale distributor of produce, dairy, and grocery items to independent retailers. Comparable as a regional grocery and produce wholesaler serving independent retail customers in overlapping New England and Mid-Atlantic geographies.
• Robinson Fresh: Fresh produce sourcing and distribution business operating across North America for retailers and foodservice customers. Comparable as a produce-focused distributor with grower relationships and supply-chain capabilities analogous to Shapiro's model.

Broad incumbents

• US Foods: Major US foodservice distributor offering broad-line products including fresh produce. Comparable at the category level, though it competes from a national, broad-line footprint rather than a specialized regional produce position.
• KeHE Distributors: Specialty and natural products distributor serving retailers across North America with focus on fresh, organic, and better-for-you categories. Comparable on the fresh and organic certified distribution angle that Shapiro highlights as a differentiator.
• Sysco: Largest US foodservice distributor with broad-line offerings including produce. Competes indirectly for the same retail and foodservice produce spend via its FreshPoint subsidiary, but operates at much greater scale with national reach.
• C&S Wholesale Grocers: Largest US grocery wholesale distributor supplying supermarkets, chains, and independent retailers nationwide. Overlaps with Shapiro on wholesale grocery distribution to independent retailers, though at vastly greater scale and breadth.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shapiro-produce

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Shapiro Produce