Yes. We work with owner-led, mid-market and private-equity-backed companies across the Merced metro area, including Atwater, Los Banos, Livingston and Chowchilla.
MERCED, CALIFORNIA
Strategy and operations consulting in Merced.
Merced is a farm and food-processing center in the San Joaquin Valley, home to the newest University of California campus and the northern end of the first planned segment of California high-speed rail.
THE LOCAL ECONOMY
What drives business in Merced.
Dairy, poultry, almonds, sweet potatoes and tomatoes drive the agricultural base, and processors such as Foster Farms in Livingston, Hilmar Cheese Company and the E. & J. Gallo winery in Livingston turn that output into packaged food and beverages. UC Merced has become a major employer and research presence, and its campus growth reaches into the local construction and rental-housing markets. Castle Airport in Atwater, a former Air Force base, offers industrial land and runway access for logistics and aviation tenants.
Notable employers
- Foster Farms
- Hilmar Cheese Company
- E. & J. Gallo Winery
- University of California, Merced
- Mercy Medical Center Merced
- County of Merced
Institutions
- University of California, Merced
- Merced College
- Castle Airport
WHAT COMPANIES HERE FACE
The decisions in front of Merced management teams.
Water is the defining constraint: groundwater-sustainability rules under state law are limiting pumping and changing farm and processor planning across the county. Food processors face rising California labor, energy and compliance costs while selling to large grocery and food-service buyers with strong pricing power. Lower housing costs than the Bay Area draw commuters, which adds demand for local services but also competition for workers.
WHERE TO START
Where Merced engagements usually begin.
8–12 weeks for the first sourcing waves
Procurement & supplier savings
Processors facing California energy, packaging and compliance costs can recover margin through supplier consolidation and better contract terms.
See the service 6–10 weeksPricing strategy & discount control
Food producers selling to large grocery and food-service buyers need price-increase cases and trade-spend discipline to offset rising costs.
See the service 6–8 weeksPortfolio & product-line review
Farm and processing businesses facing groundwater limits must decide which crops, acreage and plants to keep, change or exit.
See the serviceINDUSTRIES
Industries that anchor Merced.
RUN THE NUMBERS
Free calculators for these decisions.
They run in your browser with your own numbers. Nothing is sent to us unless you choose to share it.COMMON QUESTIONS
Working with Aryo in Merced.
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