Tanimura & Antle has announced the hiring of Matt Roy. Roy joins the company in the role of Vice President of Business Development CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture), reporting directly to Scott Grabau, CEO & President of Tanimura & Antle.
Roy will focus on developing customer relationships and creating new business specific to the company’s expanding line of greenhouse-grown fresh produce items. Roy joins the company with over 20 years of industry experience, starting with B&R Stores, Inc. where he began his career at the grocery store level. Over the years, Roy has held a diverse set of positions throughout the fresh produce industry, including President of Harold Crawford Co. Inc., Senior Director of Produce for US Foods, Produce Buyer for Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) and Director of Fresh Produce for Lincoln Premium Poultry.
A graduate of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program, Class 24, Roy has served on a number of industry committees such as the United Fresh Wholesaler Distributor Board, the Southeast Produce Council’s Education Committee and Board of Directors.
“Controlled Environment Agriculture has become an exciting part of our business and is consistent with Tanimura & Antle’s culture of providing fresh, healthy, premium fresh produce that meets and exceeds the quality and value expectations of our customers,” said Grabau. “We pride ourselves in our commitment to innovating the way we operate and the methods behind growing the produce we sell. Matt’s love for our industry, along with his leadership experience and involvement within the indoor growing industry will play a crucial role as we partner with our customers to define the greenhouse grown industry.”
Roy joins produce veteran, Karen Pflaum, who joined Tanimura & Antle in October 2019 as Director of Regional CEA Sales & Customer Development. Prior to her current role, Pflaum worked for Earthbound Farms for 20 years as Director of Customer Development for the Midwest and Central Regions, as well as a Regional Manager for Mann’s Fresh Vegetables, Dole Fresh Vegetables and Fresh Express. Together, Roy and Pflaum will focus on developing business for the company’s greenhouse-grown product line.
Tanimura & Antle plans to debut their greenhouse-grown products with an industry-wide launch at the PMA Fresh Summit in Dallas, Texas, October 15-17, 2020.
Tanimura & Antle