SALINAS, Calif. – November 1, 2010 – Markon Cooperative, Inc., the company that changed the way foodservice produce business is conducted, has turned twenty-five. Created by a group of independent broadliners in 1985 (including the late Paul Gordon of Gordon Food Service and Phoenix-based Shamrock Foods Company), Markon offered produce-centric buying combined with specialized marketing and a top-notch food safety program—something that hadn’t been done before. “When this company was founded, many broadliners sold produce,” said Tim York, president of Markon. “But nobody focused on meeting the very specific needs of foodservice operators – needs that included new items and packaging specifically designed for the foodservice market.”
Twenty-five years later, Markon’s unique services and focus on anticipating and meeting operator needs have helped maintain their position as an industry leader. Today, Markon’s North American member distributors service over 75,000 accounts, with annual sales in excess of $19 billion. Despite their advances, York says, “Many of the fundamental challenges in this business are the same as when we started—food quality, food safety, efficient procedures—but over the years we have improved upon all we’ve learned, utilized scientific and technological advances, and partnered with like-minded grower-shippers to redefine the meaning of excellence.”
Indeed, instead of relying on its past successes, Markon has bold plans for the next 25 years, including a drive for standardized sustainability metrics, increased produce consumption, and developing the industry’s next generation of leaders. York adds, “The work in which we have been involved, including the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, as well as The Center for Produce Safety at UC Davis are just the beginning.”
Source: Markon Cooperative Inc.
