Our Story
Family-Owned. Independent. Since 1979.
Our History
Almost 50 Years in the Peanut Industry
O'Connor & Company was founded in 1979 in Suffolk, Virginia — a region that has been at the center of American peanut production for well over a century. Suffolk sits in the heart of the Virginia-Carolina peanut belt, and for generations it has been home to growers, shellers, and the businesses that serve them. Starting a peanut brokerage here was not a coincidence; it was a deliberate choice to build a business rooted in the place and the people of the industry.
In the years since our founding, we have grown our network steadily — not through acquisition or rapid expansion, but through the accumulation of relationships built one transaction at a time. We have worked with buyers and suppliers through drought years and record crops, through price spikes and market corrections, through the consolidation of the shelling industry and the emergence of new product categories. Each of those experiences has deepened our understanding of how this market works and what our clients need from a broker.
Today, O'Connor & Company remains what it has always been: a small, focused, family-owned brokerage. We have not tried to become something larger or more complex. Our clients value the directness and personal accountability that come with working with a firm of our size, and we have no interest in trading that away.
Where We Work
Based in Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia is one of the most significant peanut-producing regions in the United States. The surrounding counties — Isle of Wight, Southampton, Surry, and others — have grown peanuts commercially since the late 19th century, and the region remains a major center of peanut shelling and processing today. Being based here means we are not observing the peanut industry from a distance. We are embedded in it — geographically, professionally, and personally.
Our proximity to major shelling operations, our familiarity with regional crop conditions, and our long-standing relationships with suppliers throughout the Southeast give our clients a sourcing advantage that a broker based elsewhere simply cannot replicate.
How We Work
Our Approach
Independence
We are not affiliated with any peanut processor, sheller, or grower organization. We carry no inventory and hold no supplier contracts that would create a conflict of interest. When we recommend a source, it is because it is the right fit for your needs — full stop. Our independence is the foundation of the trust our clients place in us.
Integrity
We say what we know, and we are honest about what we do not know. The peanut market involves real uncertainty — crop conditions, pricing, and availability can shift quickly. We do not overstate our certainty or tell clients what they want to hear. Straightforward, accurate information is more valuable to a purchasing manager than optimistic guesswork.
Long-Term Relationships
Most of our clients have worked with us for years, and many for decades. We approach every relationship with that long-term horizon in mind. A transaction that is not right for a client is not right for us either. We would rather pass on a deal than recommend something that does not serve the buyer's actual needs.
Market Knowledge
Brokerage is not just logistics — it is information. Understanding where the market is, where it is likely to go, and what a fair price looks like for a given product and specification requires years of experience and active engagement with the supply chain. We bring that knowledge to every conversation with a client.
A Note on How We Do Business
We are a small company, and we intend to stay that way. Our clients are not account numbers — they are people we know by name, whose operations we understand, and whose sourcing challenges we take seriously. If you are looking for a broker who will give you a straight answer, return your calls, and stand behind their recommendations, we would welcome the opportunity to talk.