GrubMarket announced June 27 its acquisition of Coast Citrus Distributors.
The acquisition is GrubMarket’s largest to date and significantly broadens its fresh produce portfolio and digital infrastructure. GrubMarket is a technology-focused food supply chain operator and one of the largest private food ecommerce companies globally. Coast Citrus Distributors is a longstanding national produce distributor based in San Diego.
Founded in 1950, Coast Citrus has grown into a major importer and distributor of tropical and specialty produce. Its annual revenues are in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The company operates across California, Texas, and Florida, with logistics and distribution facilities in key trade corridors. Its product range includes mangos, limes, root vegetables, chili peppers. It also sources other tropical items from Latin America and the Caribbean.
“This acquisition deepens our capabilities in the tropical and specialty produce sector while expanding our logistics footprint in key markets,” said Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket, in a press statement. “Coast Citrus has built trusted relationships with growers and customers alike. With the integration of our AI-powered tools and ERP technologies, we believe we can help them scale even further.”
About the GrubMarket acquisition of Coast Citrus
GrubMarket will also acquire Coast Citrus’ subsidiaries — Coast Tropical and Olympic Fruit and Vegetable Distribution — along with a fleet of more than 90 trucks and multiple warehousing and ripening centers. Notable sites include an 80,000-square-foot headquarters in San Diego, a 220,000-square-foot facility in McAllen, Texas, and additional locations in Union City, Los Angeles, and Princeton, Florida.
The move expands GrubMarket’s operational scale and adds strength to its vertically integrated supply chain, which combines sourcing, fulfillment, and technology services. The company has said Coast Citrus will retain its leadership team and continue operations under its existing name.
Xu noted that Coast Citrus will be onboarded to GrubMarket’s suite of enterprise software tools, including its WholesaleWare ERP platform, GrubAssist AI tools, mobile and web ordering platform Orders IO, and GrubPay, its digital payments system. These platforms are part of GrubMarket’s broader effort to bring digital modernization to the analog produce distribution industry.
For Coast Citrus, the deal offers access to new technologies and resources aimed at modernizing its operations.
“Joining GrubMarket is a natural next step for our company,” said Isabel Freeland, president and CEO of Coast Citrus Distributors. “We’ve spent decades building our network and reputation. With GrubMarket, we gain tools to become more efficient and continue growing while maintaining our core values.”
Coast Citrus supplies a wide range of customers, including national grocery retailers such as Walmart, Costco, Albertsons, Publix, and Sprouts, as well as regional chains and independent foodservice buyers. The company maintains certifications including PrimusGFS and SMETA, which reflect compliance with food safety and ethical trade standards.
GrubMarket has made a series of acquisitions over the past several years to build its technology stack and expand its supplier and buyer networks. The company operates in all 50 U.S. states and has a presence in international markets across Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
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