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Founded in 2018, Zeus Produce is a family-owned business operating out of Toronto’s Golden Horseshoe. Initially starting with just one restaurant client, Zeus has expanded significantly to distribute a variety of produce to wholesale buyers, including restaurants, retail stores, and institutions across southern Ontario.
"It’s really been a journey. We started small, started out of my parents' house, but I always believed in pushing ourselves and our team to keep adding more customers and figuring things out as we grew," shares Francis Znidarec, president and founder.
When Zeus Produce started, the team’s focus was on creating strong relationships with local growers and restaurant clients. However, as demand grew, they started to face several challenges:
Managing orders via phone and text was no longer feasible with the increasing volume. Francis noted that on any given day, he was fielding over 30 messages asking for orders or updates. "I was getting calls and texts all day and night," he said. "It was clear we needed a streamlined way to handle the demand if we were going to scale."
As Zeus expanded their customer base, they had to meet the needs of different buyer types, each with unique packaging, pricing, and delivery requirements. Francis shared, "Buying for restaurants versus retail is a whole different ball game. Retail customers want items like mini cucumbers in a 12-pack, while restaurants prefer larger quantities. Meeting these needs accurately became a major challenge."
With a growing customer base, Zeus realized the importance of 24/7 availability for their clients, which includes high-demand restaurants and institutions. Francis emphasized that Zeus’s commitment to service is one of its most important differentiators, sharing that he’d gone as far as sending tomatoes in an Uber to ensure customer satisfaction.
To tackle these challenges and enable sustainable growth, Zeus Produce turned to Local Line’s sales software for managing orders, customer communications, and inventory. This decision has transformed their operations, making Local Line an integral part of Zeus’s business.
"Local Line was a game-changer for us," Francis said. "Before, I was managing everything through text, email, or calls—30 to 40 messages a day. Moving everything to Local Line streamlined our process. Now, I can focus more on growing the business and less on day-to-day order management."
Local Line allowed Zeus to accept orders around the clock, catering to clients’ needs at any time. This flexibility has been crucial for Zeus, which often receives orders as late as 3 AM. "Our first team comes in at 1:30 AM to start fulfilling orders, so having a platform like Local Line that allows customers to place orders anytime has been a huge asset," Francis shared. "It’s helped us provide consistent, dependable service, which is the backbone of our reputation."
Zeus uses Local Line’s custom pricing and ordering system to serve different customer types. For instance, wholesale buyers have access to specific price lists that differ from retail customers, allowing Zeus to optimize pricing while meeting the needs of each segment. "Local Line allows us to create multiple price lists, so we can offer different packaging or pricing options based on the customer," Francis explained.
Local Line provides Zeus with a professional digital storefront that allows potential buyers to see Zeus’s offerings in a streamlined way, fostering trust and credibility. "With Local Line, we can walk into a client meeting and showcase our platform," said Francis. "It’s amazing to be able to offer our clients a high-quality ordering experience and make a strong first impression."
The platform’s order processing system enabled Zeus to automate many daily tasks, from managing inventory to creating pick lists, which are used by their team to fulfill orders efficiently. "Every morning, we generate the day’s pick list, so we know exactly what we need to fulfill orders. It saves us hours every day and has become the heart of our operations," Francis explained. "We rely on Local Line to keep everything running smoothly, even as we grow."
Francis shared, "We could have never taken on this many customers without Local Line. It allowed us to grow at a pace that would have been unmanageable otherwise."
Francis has learned valuable lessons about scaling in the competitive wholesale market through his journey. For other businesses looking to expand, he offers these insights:
"Anyone can sell produce, but not everyone can deliver the same level of service," Francis explained. He highlighted how Zeus goes above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction, from accommodating last-minute orders to providing quality assurance checks. "Our approach is service-driven. We’ll even Uber tomatoes to a client if they need it. It’s those small gestures that keep us top-of-mind for clients."
According to Francis, successful scaling is deeply rooted in relationship building. "We work with growers and clients like partners. It’s about establishing trust and consistency. We want to be their go-to, not just another vendor," he said.
To find new buyers, Francis encourages others to be proactive in reaching out to prospective clients. "I’ve reached out to potential clients on LinkedIn, sent countless emails, and even shown up at their door. You have to be persistent but respectful. It’s a game of patience and resilience," he advised.
Local Line has been essential in helping Zeus Produce operate more efficiently and present a professional face to clients. "Investing in a platform like Local Line is non-negotiable if you’re looking to scale. It takes the chaos out of order management and lets you focus on growth. Local Line is the heart of our operation—it’s been indispensable to our success."
Local Line has been transformative for Zeus Produce, supporting the company through every stage of its growth. By enabling efficient order management, streamlined inventory processes, and flexible customer pricing, Local Line has helped Zeus Produce provide unmatched service while scaling its business.
With Local Line as a foundational partner, Zeus Produce is poised for continued growth and is well-equipped to tackle new challenges and opportunities in Ontario’s competitive wholesale market. Francis’s experience shows that with the right tools, dedication to service, and commitment to building relationships, scaling is achievable—even in the fast-paced world of wholesale produce.
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