Business Name: Big Stock, INC
Business Owner: Marco & Italo Ligero
Employees: 19
Years In business: 20 years
Big Stock, Inc is a family-owned business that was started on February 15, 2013. The business was started by Mr. Marco Ligero the father and currently managed by his son Italo Ligero. The business is a wholesale food distribution company of several brand like SaborImas, ProImas, Badia, Nature’s, Café Oro, Houssy, Forrelli, Tropical, etc. The business sells imported products from Honduras and Chile with a large catalogue of over 200 products and beverages. Initially, their primary clients were distributors, but they have started selling directly to supermarkets and restaurants recently to scale the business after their engagement with the SBDC. The business is located in Fairview, New Jersey.
Big Stock, Inc became a client of the NJSBDC at Rutgers Newark in June 2018. At the time the business had been in operation for 5years. The Center has invested 90 sessions with over 600hrs in training and technical assistance in various areas of the business which include access to capital, financial management and human resource management to mention a few. They currently have 14 full-time employees and 5 part-time employees. Big Stock worked with NJSBDC at Rutgers Newark Lead Consultant, Ms. Carmen Morris and Capital Team Consultant D. Valdes. Ms. Morris provided the initial needs assessment and review for their human resources capacity, import/logistics systems and made business strategic recommendations that the business was able to implement Mr. Valdes of the NJSBDC Capital Team was able to get financial assistance for the company plus help with restructuring some of their high interest loans and increase their access to capital as well as implement sustainable financial management systems in their business operations.. The results are that Big Stock Inc have been able to capitalize their business by accessing first round of financing, create and increase their employees from 6 employees (4 FT/2PT) to a total of 19 employees (14FT/5PT). They have also been able to increase their sales revenues from $1.2million to approximately $8million as well as grow and scale their businesses into other markets like supermarkets and restaurants.
The NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark is proud to nominate Big Stock Inc at its 2023 Success Award winner. It had been an impactful experience working with Italo and Marco and see their business grow. We wish them continued success with the assistance of the SBDC.
