History

Through the Past, Present, and Future Paramount continues to gain and maintain our strong Global relationships.

1939

Founded April 1st in San Francisco, California.   Originally called the “Paramount Export Fruit Company” it was the export branch of the Heggblade-Marguleas Company, a domestic produce marketing company founded in 1935.  Mr. Anton M.  created our company motto “We Span the World’. The first office was located on Market Street in the PG&E building.  Paramount Export Company was incorporated in 1958 as a California corporation.

1946

Mr. Joe K. joined Paramount Export after having served as a navy supply officer in the Pacific during WWII. Joe traveled the world developing export markets for fine quality USA produce.

1949

Mr. Jerry B. became Paramount Export’s Hawaiian representative and developed retail and wholesale produce trade with Hawaii.

1966

Paramount Export moved to new headquarters at 251 Post Street, San Francisco, near Union Square.

1969

George M. established a Far East representative office in Hong Kong to serve customers in Hong Kong and throughout Asia with quality, fresh produce.

1971

George M. founded ETAK International Hong Kong to distribute fine quality food and beverage products for the retail, hotel and restaurant trade. Paramount Export adds USA food and beverage products to its export offerings for customers in other countries.

1972

The Pacific Coast Agriculture Export Association, lead by Paramount Export, wins its anti-trust lawsuit against Sunkist Growers. The victory opens up Sunkist citrus sales on a direct basis to independent exporters.

1980

Paramount Export hired its first field inspector in California – a first for the USA produce export industry – to provide greater customer service. Paramount continues to maintain one of the largest field inspection teams in the export business.

1980

Paramount Export moved its main office across the San Francisco Bay to Oakland, California.

1987

Paramount Export established a branch office and loading facility in the new Los Angeles produce terminal to provide customers with excellent service for air or sea freight mixed loads of produce.

1992

Paramount Export Los Angeles moved across the street to a larger warehouse and office facility to enhance its service to customers.

1999

ESOP established.  An Employee Stock Ownership Plan is inaugurated which includes all employees in the ownership of company stock.

2000

Paramount Export Los Angeles moved to new, expanded warehouse and office facility within 3 blocks of the L.A. wholesale produce market.

2001

Paramount Export Oakland moves into a new main office location near the Oakland Sea Port.

2002

Santiago, Chile representative office established to coordinate purchases and sales from South American fruit, vegetable and food suppliers.

2009

January 22nd. TSA Air Cargo Screening awarded to Paramount Export Los Angeles. The FIRST Shipper Cargo Screening Facility in the USA.

2010

Paramount Export’s Los Angeles operation moved to a large warehouse & office in Vernon, near downtown LA.

2014

April 1st, Paramount Export celebrates 75 years in the business of International and Domestic Trade.

2018

Paramount Export becomes an 100% employee-owned company under the Employee Stock Ownership Plan that was established in 1999.