"By joining Produce Alliance, Lombardo Produce has now become part of a national distribution network that allows them to expand their special services and products to national accounts that may not have been accessible to them as an independent produce house," Wilkinson said. "Lombardo Produce has a strong presence in the Las Vegas market, specializing in hand-selected vine-ripened tomatoes. Many Produce Alliance national accounts have service needs in this rapidly growing market."
Owner Tommy Lombardo, also known in the Las Vegas market as "Tommy Tomatez," is the leading tomato packer in Las Vegas. With his newly expanded 20,500- sq.-ft. facility and fleet of trucks, Lombardo is able to service his customers seven days a week.
"Membership in Produce Alliance will be a great advantage for us," explained Lombardo. "As the newest member, I am looking forward to the network of support that Produce Alliance offers. Customer service and the quality of our product has always been our number one priority, and it was important to me that Produce Alliance shares the same philosophy. I am confident that our new relationship with Produce Alliance will allow us to become a dominant player in the Las Vegas produce market for many years to come."
Operating under the motto "Quality Doesn't Cost, It Pays," Lombardo Produce holds a "superior" rating, with third-party inspector A.I.B. (American Institute of Baking), an HACCP program in place, as well as an seasoned management team led by General Manager Bobby Pesquera.
Tommy Lombardo, a New York native with 15 years' experience in the produce business, started Lombardo Produce with his brother, Edward, company cfo, in May 2000. Having lived in Las Vegas for 26 years, Lombardo has developed very strong ties in the community and with local business chapters. One-third of Lombardo's business comes from the casino/resorts; the other two-thirds come from white-tablecloth establishments, hospitals, correctional facilities, as well as retail chains.
Produce Alliance, a national membership of fresh produce distributors with more than $1 billion in annual sales, is a produce management services company specializing in the procurement and distribution of fresh produce for multi-unit chain restaurants.
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.