Seald-Sweet taps Bill Weyland to lead import program
Seald-Sweet taps Bill Weyland to lead import program
Foreign citrus suppliers likely will recognize his name and face, but they might do a double-take when he mentions his company.
Bill Weyland, well known in the produce industry and who most recently worked for DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL, has been named director of imports at Seald-Sweet International. Mr. Weyland, who joined the Vero Beach, FL-based company March 27, will remain in New Jersey and head a marketing office in the New Brunswick area in the central part of the state.
"Seald-Sweet has gone through some interesting new developments recently, and there is an abundance of opportunities now and in the future," Mr. Weyland said of his decision to join Seald-Sweet. "The parent company, Univeg, is very progressive on a global basis, and that was very attractive to me."
Mayda Sotomayor, senior vice president of Seald-Sweet International, told The Produce News, "We have known Bill for several years and have a great deal of respect for him, and we are excited about his hiring," adding that the addition of Mr. Weyland "shows our dedication to the import deal."
Mr. Weyland said that the Univeg business model is "global and vertically integrated from growing through distribution, and I will support that global strategy."
He noted that new sourcing opportunities from the Southern Hemisphere have arisen, especially from South Africa and Chile, and he is looking forward to developing business there for Seald-Sweet.
"With the problems that have occurred domestically, such as in Florida with the hurricanes, greening and canker, it is very important for companies to diversify [sourcing]," he said.
Ms. Sotomayor said that Seald-Sweet's decision to open a marketing office in New Jersey is based in part on the region being a key receiving point for imported product. "We already have a big quality-control staff in New Jersey, and we are now looking to expand the marketing operation there, hopefully in the next few weeks. We're looking for good people there" to accommodate the expected growth in business. "We're only limited by the number of good people we can find."
Ms. Sotomayor added that as she is taking on more of the management duties, it was important for her to find someone to absorb some of her current duties. "I couldn't have hoped for a better person than Bill," she said.
Bill Weyland, well known in the produce industry and who most recently worked for DNE World Fruit Sales in Fort Pierce, FL, has been named director of imports at Seald-Sweet International. Mr. Weyland, who joined the Vero Beach, FL-based company March 27, will remain in New Jersey and head a marketing office in the New Brunswick area in the central part of the state.
"Seald-Sweet has gone through some interesting new developments recently, and there is an abundance of opportunities now and in the future," Mr. Weyland said of his decision to join Seald-Sweet. "The parent company, Univeg, is very progressive on a global basis, and that was very attractive to me."
Mayda Sotomayor, senior vice president of Seald-Sweet International, told The Produce News, "We have known Bill for several years and have a great deal of respect for him, and we are excited about his hiring," adding that the addition of Mr. Weyland "shows our dedication to the import deal."
Mr. Weyland said that the Univeg business model is "global and vertically integrated from growing through distribution, and I will support that global strategy."
He noted that new sourcing opportunities from the Southern Hemisphere have arisen, especially from South Africa and Chile, and he is looking forward to developing business there for Seald-Sweet.
"With the problems that have occurred domestically, such as in Florida with the hurricanes, greening and canker, it is very important for companies to diversify [sourcing]," he said.
Ms. Sotomayor said that Seald-Sweet's decision to open a marketing office in New Jersey is based in part on the region being a key receiving point for imported product. "We already have a big quality-control staff in New Jersey, and we are now looking to expand the marketing operation there, hopefully in the next few weeks. We're looking for good people there" to accommodate the expected growth in business. "We're only limited by the number of good people we can find."
Ms. Sotomayor added that as she is taking on more of the management duties, it was important for her to find someone to absorb some of her current duties. "I couldn't have hoped for a better person than Bill," she said.
