Sonny and Bob Heeren, October 2005
Heeren Brothers opened in 1933 when John Sr. and Elmer Heeren started a produce trucking business in Grand Rapids, Michigan. One brother would drive a truck to the Southern states to purchase strawberries, citrus, cabbage and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. He would then be met by the other brother at the mid-way point between Grand Rapids and the southern growing area just visited. There, they would exchange trucks, one returning to Grand Rapids to sell the fresh produce and the other returning South to purchase another load of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Six years later, the pair expanded their operations to include cross-country hauling. Other drivers would bring fresh produce to the Heerens, which they sold at their stall in the largest of the city's wholesale produce markets on Market Street. They also purchased 10 acres of land and built an apple packing and storage facility on Alpine Avenue, just north of the city and in the fruit-growing heart of West Michigan.
John and Elmer Heeren incorporated the business in 1962 with their sons, John (Sonny) and Bob. Like their fathers, John and Bob Heeren split the duties of hauling and then selling produce, both at their stall at the produce market on Market street and to the restaurants nearby. When Grand Rapids decided to close its downtown produce markets and relocate all vendors to a newly annexed tract of land, the Heerens purchased a lot within the tract and built a 3,800 square foot warehouse. This facility, located at 1330 East Service Dr. SW was shared with L & L Packaged Produce for nearly 30 years. During these years, Heerens sold mostly fruits while L & L sold mostly vegetables.
As independent truck drivers began to disappear in the 1970s, the Heerens began building a fleet of their own trucks and drivers. They also began expanding their produce line to include plums, peaches, nectarines and other fruits. In 1975, they enclosed the dock areas and added a new storage room. The added room was called the "tomato" room because it had the ability to be heated or cooled and was designed with the purpose of improving tomato quality. 1978 brought yet another addition, two coolers and several new loading doors. This would bring the facility up to its current size of 11,000 square feet.
In the early 1980's, L & L Packaged Produce moved to a new location. It was then that Heerens began selling a full line of fruits and vegetables. A decade later, Heerens would move to their current location. By 1995, it was necessary to double the size of the warehouse, this would bring the facility to its current size of 42,000 square feet.
By the time Bob and Sonny Heeren were ready to retire in the late 1990s, the business had grown from two employees to more than 80.
December 04, 2006, Heeren Bros. Inc., acquired the assets of the J.A. Besteman company. This event brought together two organizations, each with over 70 years of produce business experience. The merging of the two companies would extend the product offerings, service levels and create the largest, family-owned, full line distributor in the state of Michigan.
In 2011, after the tragic loss of owner Tom Heeren, the Heeren Brothers continued forward with plans to upgrade its Grand Rapids and Comstock Park, Michigan facilities. Property was acquired at 7 Mile Rd NW and Alpine Ave NW in Alpine Township. Design plans were finalized through the following year and construction on a new facility began in December of 2012.
In cooperation with FIRST COMPANIES, the general contractor, and numerous other contractors and officials at Alpine Township, the Heeren Bros., moved its corporate headquarters and distribution operations from it's Grand Rapids location to the new site at 1055 7 Mile Rd NW in Alpine Township. It's former Grand Rapids site of 50 years was put up for sale.
2014 rang in the New Year and Heeren Bros operating company, Ridgeking Apple Packing & Storage, prepared to make the move from 5304 Alpine Ave NW, Alpine Township to the new site, less than 1 mile away, on 7 Mile Rd.
Today, two of Bob's sons, Bruce and Mark and two of Sonny's sons, Jim and Dan, make up the third generation of the Heeren family that are involved in the business. Fourth generation family members are active in the daily operation of the business as well.