Dole South Africa, a subsidiary of Dole plc, and Allesbeste Group today announced the formation of a new partnership agreement in Letaba Pakkers - previously known as Afrupro Packers in Tzaneen - a region renowned for the production and export of avocados, litchis and mangoes from South Africa.
Dole and Allesbeste will each own close to 50% of the newly branded Letaba Pakkers pack house. A new General Manager has been appointed who will report to a Board of Directors, which will consist of three Dole and three Allesbeste representatives. This management team is committed to continuing to invest in world class technology, equipment, and expertise to grow Letaba Pakkers into one of the leading pack houses in South Africa.
This transaction reflects Dole plc’s strategic intent to invest in a best-in-class vertically integrated global avocado supply chain and consolidate its position as one of the industry’s leading Avocado marketers. Product from Letaba Pakkers pack house will be exported to Dole’s operations across Europe, most notably Dole Exotics in the Netherlands, Dole’s specialist unit dedicated to the ripening and marketing of the DOLE® “BE Exotic” brand.
“We are excited to now have access to our own facility that will expand the opportunity to pack and market our own avocados and litchis from South Africa,” says Hannes Nieuwoudt, Managing Director of Dole South Africa.
"Letaba Pakkers is strategically important for the area in terms of providing a high quality, independent fruit packing service at a competitive cost to the grower, regardless of whom the growers choose to market their product with. Allesbeste looks forward to working with a strong partner like Dole in realising this objective”, says Edrean Ernst, Director of the Allesbeste Group.
“The combined volume throughput of Dole and Allesbeste in this pack house, as well as the collective professional management skills of both companies, will create economies of scale and efficiencies that will benefit growers in terms of packing costs while delivering optimised operational capacities that meet the most exacting international quality standards. By delivering a professional, cost effective pack house solution we will increase our marketing opportunities and add value to our existing business,” added Nieuwoudt.
“The ability to pack and send avocados within protocol remains the most difficult task a pack house can undertake. This is something we intend to continue to take very seriously at Letaba Pakkers, therefore giving each producer packing at our facility the best chance to deliver quality fruit to markets anywhere in the world,” added Donovan Lewis, Marketing Manager at Allesbeste.
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