Bix Produce

The story of Bix Produce begins in 1930 in Austin, Minnesota, with a founder named Max Bix and a single truck. The business was built on a simple premise: deliver the finest quality produce to customers on their schedule. This foundational idea propelled the company's growth for decades. A significant chapter opened in 1980 when Randy Wilcox purchased the company from Sam Bix. This led to a period of expansion, including the acquisition of Beckman Produce in 1997 and a move into a new, larger facility in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The company evolved into a regional leader, specializing in bulk, specialty, and fresh-cut produce for a wide array of foodservice clients. The company's trajectory took another turn in December 2015 when it was acquired by Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a middle-market investment firm. This partnership aimed to build on Bix's 85-year history and accelerate its growth as a market leader. The final, and perhaps most significant, event occurred in the summer of 2023, when Sysco's specialty produce company, FreshPoint, agreed to acquire Bix Produce. This acquisition integrated Bix into a global distribution network, marking the next stage in its long evolution while keeping the existing management team in place.