Chicago-based private equity firm Shore Capital Partners announced the formation of Produce One as a multi-regional specialty produce distribution platform established following the company’s partnership with Premier ProduceOne (PPO) and acquisition of Native Maine Produce (Native Maine).

PPO was founded in 1948 by the Pavlofsky family and, in partnership with Tony Anselmo and Anthony Rossi, built the business to provide statewide distribution coverage across Ohio. The third and fourth generation Pavlofskys will continue leading the PPO division alongside Shore to drive continued growth and development.

Meanwhile, Native Maine provides geographic expansion and introduces unique sourcing and products that complement the broader business. Together, these partnerships provide the foundation for Produce One’s multi-regional footprint and specialty produce offering.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Gary and Ervin Pavlofsky to build a leading specialty produce distribution and processing business in the Midwest and Eastern United States,” said Jeff Smart, Partner at Shore Capital. “PPO and Native Maine have built impressive organizations grounded in customer service, consistent high quality, and competitive pricing. We will work hard to build on the historical success the founders have achieved while carrying forward the unique family business cultures and continuous improvement mindset that has led to this point.”

Shore Capital said Produce One will invest in sales and marketing, procurement, technology systems and warehouse and distribution infrastructure to further enhance operations and explore new growth avenues. The company will also pursue inorganic growth opportunities through add-on acquisition partnerships to expand geographic coverage, category depth and channel and format capabilities.

Additionally, Shore announced that Tom Wienclaw will lead Produce One as CEO, bringing 20 years of foodservice distribution experience to the platform.