In 1978, Kevin Keany had a vision. With two years of experience working for a wholesale produce company after college, Kevin decided to take a gamble and start his own company. This decision led to the creation of the Washington area’s largest and most successful wholesale produce company.
What followed is a classic story of dedication and success that ultimately involved the entire Keany family. Keany Produce has earned the confidence of one of the nation’s most demanding food service markets.
Kevin began Keany Produce in a small warehouse slot in the old Washington D.C. produce market. Starting well before dawn each morning, he delivered fresh fruits and vegetables from the back of a Dodge van to restaurants in Old Town, Alexandria. In spite of overwhelming odds, the one-man business flourished. Kevin brought his customers a spirit of hands-on commitment and honest dealings.
The new enterprise continued to grow, and Kevin was joined by his brothers Danny, Chris and Ted. Their father, Patrick Keany Sr., had a successful contract food business and also lent his support to the enterprise. Pat Sr. said to his sons, “If you focus on high quality food and honest dealings with your customers, you’ll be successful. After all, everybody has to eat!”
Together, they set out to build a legacy that would define the standard for service and quality for the Washington area for many years to come.
As the years passed, the company consistently captured a larger share of the competitive local market. The Keany brothers and their father worked tirelessly to provide their customers with the finest quality produce at a fair price. Pat Sr. taught his sons the value customer service and leadership which is what they credit their success to be today.
In this day of multi-national corporations, Keany Produce is still a family owned business. An experienced management and sales team supplement the Keany brothers taking an active role in day-to-day operations. This gives clients the benefit of a stable and well-organized operation that is able to embrace the opportunities and challenges of continued growth; while retaining an emphasis on sound business practices and personalized customer service.
Thirty-four years have seen a lot of changes. Keany Produce now employs over 400 people with a fleet of over 140 trucks — a far cry from one man and a Dodge van.