Ed Seidenberg

Galaxie’s Success Profiled by Automatic Vending

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Galaxie's Success Profiled by Automatic VendingIt has been said that the best kind of attention in business is positive attention from others in the same industry. If it’s true, and we believe it is, that makes it all the more special that Galaxie Coffee was recently profiled by Automatic Vending in an excellent article written by Emily Refermat. Our thanks go out to Emily and the entire Automatic Vending staff.

Automatic Vending is a digital and print magazine devoted to the retail vending and beverage sectors. It is one of the most respected publications in the industry, making it all that more important that they chose to profile our company. Through Refermat’s writing, we were able to tell the Galaxie story in a way that we hope will inspire our customers, our employees, and other entrepreneurs who are not sure they have what it takes to succeed.

Built from the Ground Up

Galaxie CEO Ed Seidenberg provided most of the information for the article. He began by explaining that our company was built from the ground up by five partners who started Galaxie way back in 1969. Back then, office coffee service was in its infancy. Galaxie’s original staff was tasked with the difficult job of convincing employers to give up their coffee clubs in favor of weekly coffee delivery from a managed provider.

Those early days were not easy, but the company maintained steady growth by offering quality along with convenience. Over the next 30 years Galaxie expanded from a small facility in Massapequa to a larger facility in West Babylon, and then on to our Farmingdale headquarters. What started as a business serving a small number of customers in the Massapequa area eventually became one that services all of the greater New York metro and beyond.

It is About Quality and Variety

Ed was quick to point out that two of the keys to our success have been quality and variety. Quality has always been our number one priority, whether we sell drip coffee, single cup pods, bottled water, or juices. We want our customers to choose Galaxie because the coffee and other beverages we supply are delicious. That commitment to quality is one of the things that has allowed us to leverage our own branded coffees to such a large degree.

In retail, variety also helps a lot. So over the years, we have acquired a number of competing coffee companies along with a janitorial supply company. The combined acquisitions have allowed us to expand our product inventory considerably. Today we not only deliver coffee, but we also carry a full line of additional beverages along with breakroom paper products and janitorial supplies.

After 50 years of steady growth and success, Galaxie Coffee is still a family affair. Ed’s wife is part of the business, as are Neil Robbins – the son of one of the company’s original partners – and his two sons. Their vision and leadership are that which motivate us to continue working hard on behalf of our customers.

An Interview with Ed Seidenberg, CEO of Galaxie Coffee

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Ed Seidenberg

Ed Seidenberg

Recently, Galaxie Coffee CEO Ed Seidenberg was kind enough to make time in his busy schedule to answer some questions. The resulting interview follows:

 

Q: Please explain the type of business this is, and the services/products you offer.

A: Galaxie Coffee is primarily an Office Coffee Service (OCS) company providing both coffee and coffee brewing equipment to a combination of corporate offices, schools, government agencies  and bagel stores and delis.  In addition to coffee, we offer a wide range of water, tea, soda, juice, snacks, cereals, paper goods and all the allied products that go along with coffee.  These include sweeteners, creamers, stirrers, etc.  We also offer many different types of cleaning and  floor care products as well as light bulbs.

Q: How did you get started in your business?

A: Galaxie Coffee was founded by Leonard Robbins and his son Neil, who is actively involved in running the business. The current management team of Joseph and Ed began their association with Neil in December 2005. Since then, Galaxie Coffee has more than tripled in size through organic growth, as well as the acquisitions of Regal Coffee and All Island Janitorial Supply. The acquisition of Regal Coffee in February 2008 enabled Galaxie Coffee to broaden its customer base in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The acquisition of All Island Janitorial Supply in November 2008 has allowed the company to significantly widen its product offering.

Q: Where is your business headquarters located? Are there any branch offices?

A: Our office and warehouse are located in Farmingdale, NY from where we can easily serve NYC, Long Island and Westchester.

Q: Who are your customers? What do they typically look for?

A: Our customers are primarily corporate offices who understand the benefits of offering high quality beverages and snacks to their employees.  We can tailor the coffee program to the size of the office as well as to the budget.   No office is too big or small!

Q: Why do your customers choose you, as opposed to your competitors?

A: Galaxie Coffee has built a reputation of providing excellent products at competitive prices.  However, it is our level of service that really separates us from the competition.  All of our employees are trained to go the extra mile and provide a level of customer service that goes above and beyond what the typical customer expects.

Q: How has computer technology impacted your business?

A: Over the years, we’ve updated our computer systems and website.  We try to use technology in conjunction with the old-fashioned human touch.  Many of our customers prefer to call their orders in and talk to our reps.

Q: Where do you see your business and yourself 5 years from now?

A: I’d like to think we can grow organically and through acquisition over this period.  The key will be to retain the attributes that allowed us to reach this point, and hopefully even improve upon them.  Offering a superior level of customer service is one of our core values and we will continue to make that a priority.  We will look at adding new product lines when they make sense for us and our customers.

Thanks for your time, Ed, and Happy Holidays!