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Puzycki's Produce

What Chefs Want Announces Agreement to Acquire Puzycki’s Produce and Specialty Foods in St. Petersburg Florida 

By | Chef's Feed, Company News, Produce, What Chefs Want

Louisville, KY and St. Petersburg, FL — December 4, 2025 – What Chefs Want is pleased to announce that the company is under contract to acquire Puzycki’s Produce and Specialty Foods, a respected supplier of fresh produce and specialty food items based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The transaction is scheduled to close on January 12, 2026. 

Puzycki’s Produce, owned and led by Brian Puzycki, has served restaurants, schools, and foodservice operations across a wide stretch of central Florida for many years. The company operates from its primary St. Petersburg location and an additional warehouse in Vero Beach, allowing the team to support customers from Tampa Bay through Daytona and along the eastern corridor. Puzycki’s Produce is known for reliable service, strong relationships, and high quality fresh products. What Chefs Want will continue to operate these locations and will build upon the trusted foundation already in place. 

This acquisition expands the reach of What Chefs Want throughout the entire state of Florida. In recent years, the company has welcomed other Florida-based organizations into the What Chefs Want family, including The Garden Produce Company in Jacksonville, Florida, and more recently, Premier Produce in Dania Beach, Florida. With Premier Produce serving much of the eastern and southeastern regions and Puzycki’s Produce serving the western and central regions, What Chefs Want will now maintain a cohesive and strategically aligned footprint throughout the entire state. This creates new opportunities to strengthen logistics, streamline distribution, and deliver greater consistency and convenience for chefs from coast to coast. 

Ron Turnier, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of What Chefs Want, shared the following statement: 

“We are excited to welcome Puzycki’s Produce into our growing Florida network. Brian Puzycki and his team have built a trusted business with a strong reputation for quality and service. This acquisition allows us to serve chefs across the entire state of Florida with a larger catalogue of items and the full scope of What Chefs Want offerings, including meat, seafood, dairy, gourmet products, pantry staples, and to go and paper essentials. We look forward to supporting new customers and delivering the convenience and reliability that chefs expect from our team.” 

Brian Puzycki, owner of Puzycki’s Produce and Specialty Foods, added: 

“This partnership opens an incredible path forward for our customers. With What Chefs Want, we gain the resources, technology, and product depth needed to grow in a meaningful way. I am excited for what this will mean for chefs throughout the Tampa Bay region and for the future of our business.” 

In the coming months, What Chefs Want will begin introducing expanded services that are standard in its other markets. These include daily delivery, no order minimums, 24/7 customer support, and split case quantities across every product line. Florida customers will also gain access to the company’s robust online ordering and account management platform, which provides a fast and intuitive experience for professional kitchens. 

Current customers of Puzycki’s Produce will continue to receive dependable service from the local team they know and trust. What Chefs Want will also add resources in logistics, operations, marketing, and customer support to ensure a smooth transition and a strong platform for future growth in the region. 

What Chefs Want Announces Agreement to Acquire Premier Produce to Strengthen Fresh Foodservice Offerings Across Central and South Florida. 

By | Chef's Feed, Company News, Produce, What Chefs Want

Louisville, KY and Dania Beach, FL — October 10, 2025 – What Chefs Want, a leading foodservice distributor known for its chef-driven model and full-service product offering, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Premier Produce, a respected Florida-based distributor with deep roots in produce sourcing and service, pursuant to which What Chefs Want will acquire Premier Produce for an undisclosed amount. The transaction is expected to close in November 2025. 

Founded in 2009, Premier Produce has built a reputation as a critical channel partner for chefs and managed accounts, connecting over 3,100 customer locations to a broad network of growers and suppliers. With distribution centers in Dania Beach and Melbourne, plus cross-dock facilities in Jacksonville, Lakeland, Naples, and Key West, Premier Produce has established a strong footprint across Central and South Florida. 

“This is a powerful step forward for What Chefs Want,” said Ron Turnier, What Chefs Want Founder & CEO. “Premier Produce has long been recognized for its quality, scale, and strong customer relationships. Together, we’ll be able to provide even greater access to the freshest ingredients, supported by the technology, logistics, and high-touch service that both companies are known for.” 

Premier Produce’s offerings include a full range of fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy, and grocery items, with unmatched depth and breadth in Florida markets. The company’s weekly customer communications, extensive product knowledge, and strong partnerships with leading growers have made it the partner of choice for both independent restaurants and national chains. 

“Joining forces with What Chefs Want allows us to take the next step in our journey,” said Jim Chlebogiannis, President of Premier Produce. “Our team has always been committed to delivering quality and service, and now we can expand that mission with additional resources, expanded product categories, and the innovative tools that What Chefs Want brings to the table.” 

The acquisition reflects What Chefs Want’s continued growth strategy, expanding its network of distribution facilities across the South and Southeast while staying true to its promise of no minimums, split cases, and daily delivery—all designed to make chefs’ lives easier. 

Together, the companies will focus on seamless integration, ensuring that customers continue to enjoy the personalized service and quality they have always relied upon. Over time, customers will also gain access to expanded product lines, new technology platforms, and additional service areas, as these enhancements are thoughtfully rolled out to ensure the best possible experience.  

Advisors 

Clayton R. Hume PPLC is legal counsel to What Chefs Want. Rothschild & Co. acted as the financial advisor to Premier Produce and Patzik, Frank & Samotny Ltd. is legal counsel to Premier Produce for the transaction.   

About What Chefs Want 
What Chefs Want is a chef-focused foodservice distributor that delivers a full line of fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, gourmet, staples, and to-go items. With a commitment to flexibility, convenience, and service, What Chefs Want empowers chefs to focus on their craft while ensuring kitchens are stocked with everything they need, when they need it. 

About Premier Produce 
Premier Produce, headquartered in Dania Beach, Florida, has been serving chefs, resorts, country clubs, and foodservice establishments since 2009. Known for its longstanding grower relationships, efficient logistics, and customer-dedicated sales force, Premier Produce connects kitchens to the freshest ingredients with speed and precision. 

Welcome The Garden Produce of Jacksonville, FL

By | Company News

Dear Customers of The Garden, 

We are pleased to announce the merger of two great family-owned companies. The Garden Produce and Creation Gardens / What Chefs Want have joined forces to soon provide you with seven challenging product lines in the Greater Jacksonville Area.     

The Garden has been providing the First Coast and Coastal Empire with the highest quality produce at the highest level of service for over 40 years.   Since 1997, What Chefs Want has grown by servicing chefs, restaurateurs, institutions, and retail operators by offering unparalleled service and product offerings.   We focus on being the experts of seven product lines, including:  USDA inspected butchered meats, a full line of fresh, cut and frozen seafood, a huge selection of gourmet items, cheeses, dairy, to-go packaging; as well as specialty and commodity produce.   These lines will soon be brought to you with daily delivery, no minimums, portioned item offerings, 24/7 customer service, and a great web and app experience. 

“Ultimately, we believe that joining the What Chefs Want family will help our customers succeed and create greater opportunity for our employees as we move forward in a world where delivery costs need to be spread over more lines.” says Matt Wasson 

Over the next week we will be reaching out to train all on-line ordering customers on the new web and app.  For everyone else, then ordering will remain the same.  Over the next few weeks we will be announcing the build out of our product production capabilities to serve you our full lines of products. 

We look forward to the opportunity to serve you and want to thank you for your business! 

Matt Wasson & Jon Wasson – The Garden Produce, Inc

Mollie & Ron Turnier – Founders – What Chefs Want