Pro*Act Adds Canadian Distributor to Roster



Located in Toronto, Bamford Produce, founded in 1881, is the oldest produce company in Canada. Under the direction of Jim Bamford and his son, Steve, third and fourth generation respectively, Bamford has three divisions: Bamford Produce, a foodservice distribution company, Freshline Foods, a fresh fruit and vegetable processing division, and Fresh Advancements, a wholesale division on the Toronto Terminal Market.

Steve Bamford, president of Bamford Produce, noted "We've been interested in becoming a Pro*Act distributor for quite some time and were very pleased when this market area became available. Pro*Act provides us access to produce procurement programs that enhance our purchasing capabilities and are aligned with our high standards in quality and safety. As a fourth generation company, we have a tremendous amount of experience in perishable distribution. But being affiliated with Pro*Act will allow us to further enhance our position in the marketplace."

Lloyd Ligier, vice president of business Development for Pro*Act, stated, "Bamford Produce excels in perishable distribution. Its reputation in the industry, combined with their distribution coverage in Ontario, Canada, makes this a perfect fit for both organizations."

The other Canadian distributor-member of Pro*Act is Hector Larivee in Montreal.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Despite their complaints, customers keep flocking to Chipotle

The Bottom Line: The chain continued to be a juggernaut last quarter, with strong sales and traffic growth, despite frequent social media complaints about shrinkflation or other challenges.

Operations

Hitting resistance elsewhere, ghost kitchens and virtual concepts find a happy home in family dining

Reality Check: Old-guard chains are finding the alternative operations to be persistently effective side hustles.

Financing

The Tijuana Flats bankruptcy highlights the dangers of menu miscues

The Bottom Line: The fast-casual chain’s problems following new menu debuts in 2021 and 2022 show that adding new items isn’t always the right idea.

Trending

More from our partners