Sirna & Sons Produce Joins FreshEdge
Combination further expands FreshEdge’s presence in the Midwest
Chicago, Ill., – FreshEdge, a super-regional distributor of fresh food solutions backed by Wind Point Partners (“Wind Point”), acquired Sirna & Sons Produce (“Sirna & Sons”), a wholesale produce and fresh food distributor. Since 1939, Sirna & Sons and the Sirna family have been serving a range of foodservice customers throughout Ohio, Central Pennsylvania, and Northern West Virginia. Sirna & Sons also offers fresh cut produce through its value-added operation, Christine’s Cuts, a Kosher and Primus GFS certified in-house produce processing facility. Sirna & Sons operates two state-of-the-art facilities, one in Ravenna, Ohio, and the other in Norwalk, Ohio. Together, these facilities total 140,000 square feet of warehouse space and utilize solar panels as well as other sustainable materials.
The acquisition strengthens FreshEdge’s presence in the Midwest by connecting existing operating companies that surround Ohio markets and providing additional warehousing and value-added processing capacity to better serve its combined customer base. Sirna & Sons joins a growing family of brands that includes Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Indianapolis Fruit, Get Fresh Produce, City Produce, McCartney Produce, Monteverde’s, Valley Produce, Vine Line, Garden Cut, CIBUS Fresh, Papania’s, Testa Produce and Panama Banana.
“We gladly welcome Tom, Vince, Serena and their outstanding team to the FreshEdge family,” said Steve Grinstead, CEO of FreshEdge. “With a commitment to customer service at its core, Sirna & Sons Produce will be a great addition to our growing group of customer-obsessed companies.”
“Sirna & Sons Produce has built a solid reputation as a successful family-owned and operated business for 84 years,” said Greg Corsaro, President and COO of FreshEdge. “We are proud to welcome them to our FreshEdge family.”
“We are excited for this new opportunity,” said Tom Sirna, President of Sirna & Sons Produce. “We remain committed to offering the same level of excellent customer service and quality our customers have come to expect from Sirna & Sons. The Sirna family will remain involved in the day-to-day operations of the company to ensure the legacy built by our father will continue for years to come.”
“We are very pleased to be joining FreshEdge and working alongside its amazing family of companies,” said Vince Sirna, COO of Sirna & Sons. “This is the next step in growing our future and we are extremely excited with the opportunities that will follow.”
“We have watched the business evolve over the years and are so proud of what we have built,” said Serena Sirna Wagner, Vice President of Administration of Sirna & Sons. “From working in the grocery store as children to developing the wholesale side of the business, we’re pleased to now be entering the next level in the produce industry by becoming part of the FreshEdge family.”
Joe Lawler, Managing Director with Wind Point Partners, added, “Sirna & Sons is an exciting strategic acquisition that expands FreshEdge’s footprint in the Midwest and enhances its fresh-cut capacity, which are both critical elements of our value creation plan. We look forward to continuing to support the M&A effort alongside management.”
Wind Point Partners acquired FreshEdge in October 2022 in partnership with CEO Steve Grinstead and President & COO, Greg Corsaro, two veterans in the fresh produce distribution space. This acquisition represents the third acquisition under Wind Point’s ownership. FreshEdge’s acquisition strategy will continue to focus on acquiring fresh food distribution companies with high quality produce and specialty food products along with exceptional service and a strong brand reputation. Geographically, FreshEdge is focused on both new and existing geographies, including the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest U.S.