Maines
Eyes Additional Bulk Food Store After CFM Purchase
by Timothy W. Scee II
Special to Newzjunky.com
Published December 7, 2010
WATERTOWN, N.Y. — An
86-year-old Watertown food distribution company announced
Monday it hopes to grow its once flourishing customer base
once it’s process of being sold to a Broome County food
distributor, currently serving 33 states, is complete
within the next two weeks.
Maines Paper & Food Services Inc., Conklin, N.Y.,
announced the company’s purchase of California Fruit
Markets, or CFM Food Distributors, Inc., 580 W. Main St.,
during a press conference with representatives from both
businesses.
“Being able to come back to our roots, utilize those
resources and progress the company-progress Maine’s
Paper & Food Service of Watertown-it’s going to be a
win-win,” Peter J. Levos, Vice President of CFM Sales
& Marketing said. “It’s going to be a major tool
for our customers and our employees.”
Christopher Mellon, president and chief executive officer
of Maines, said the implementation of new divisions,
offered to both current and future customers, will add to
CFM’s ability to offer unique services.
“Really what our goal is today is really kicking off,
taking the Levos family into the next generation and
leveraging off everything Jerry’s done in building this
business,” Mellon said.
One change to come will be the addition of a new produce
line-Maines Produce Express.
“Customers are going to be able to call in at 11
o’clock in the morning for that afternoon’s
delivery,” Paul N. Levos, CFM’s vice president of
purchasing and marketing, explained. “It’s just crazy
business service.”
Mellon further said of Produce Express, “It’s now
about a $63 million entity. What we’re going to do with
the Levos family is come up here with what they
established as CFM, take their broadline business and
start to add all of these other divisions.”
So what exactly does this mean for current CFM employees?
“We’re in the middle of orientation with the existing
staff,” Mellon said. “We’re looking, particularly in
the produce area, to try and add sales.”
The Maines president said he expects between 10 and 25
additional people would be hired within six to nine
months.
Even CFM’s third generation of Levos family members will
be able to keep their jobs after the company’s buyout.
Peter Levos will assume the role of president of Maine’s
Paper & Food Service of Watertown, Jerry P. Levos,
president of CFM, will be in charge of purchasing and Paul
Levos will continue on with sales and marketing for the
new business.
A Maines equipment and supply warehouse, which would sell
items from smallwares to bulk foods and employ 30-50
employees, is also expected to open within six to eight
months in the Watertown area. Mellon, who hasn’t found a
location for the future warehouse, said it would be
approximately 18,000 square feet.
“It’s a once stop kind of catering party-type center
that’s open to the public,” he said. “No membership
fees, nothing like Sam’s.”
He added, “We’re hoping to see the county step up and
help us facilitate some of that success with regards to
giving us the incentives to get that back up and get some
bodies there.”
The Levos family seemed to agree with Mellon that a Maines
buyout of CFM was a smart move for the Watertown company.
“This really is just the next chapter in the Levos’
story,” Mellon said. “It’s probably what I’m most
proud of. It’s a big win for Watertown and the
surrounding communities.”
“Being able to come back to our roots, utilize those
resources and progress the company-progress Maine’s
Paper & Food Service of Watertown-it’s going to be a
win-win,” Peter J. Levos, Vice President of CFM Sales
& Marketing said. “It’s going to be a major tool
for our customers and our employees.” 
