John Lazopoulos at DNE in perfect timing with firm's growth strategies
John Lazopoulos at DNE in perfect timing with firm's growth strategies
A 30-year veteran in the fresh food industry, John Lazopoulos Jr. joined DNE World Fruit Sales, headquartered in Fort Pierce, FL, in early August. He will serve the company as import manager of Spanish and Moroccan clementines.
"We are very happy to have John on board with us," said Mark Hanks, DNE's vice president of sales and marketing for North America. "He brings a world of experience with him to our company. The retailers we have spoken to know and are fond of him, and they look forward to working with him. He is also a perfect fit with our growers. Those in Spain and Morocco feel he will be a true asset to our ongoing partner-relationships.
Greg Nelson, DNE's president, is also thrilled with John's appointment. He agrees that he is a highly professional and conscientious individual who has a wealth of experience and knowledge. It is a win-win situation for us all."
Before joining DNE, Mr. Lazopoulos was at Lazopoulos Fruit & Importing LLC & Global Pacific, the exclusive import agent of South African organic grapes shipped into North America. Prior to that, he was in sales, marketing, quality control and operations for Paganini Foods LLC, an importer of Italian specialty produce. In his career, Mr. Lazopoulos served as general manager and partner of Albert's Organics/EarthStar Organics, where his responsibilities included overseeing the corporation which then generated more than $50 million in sales annually. He also worked for Global Pacific Produce Inc. as director of sales and marketing, as general manager of eastern North America for the Oppenheimer Group in Vancouver, BC, and was co-founder and president of Punelli-Lazopoulos Inc., a broker, sales agent and distributor of domestic grapes and fruit.
Mr. Lazopoulos is equally happy about joining DNE and with his new position in the firm's important clementine division.
"This is a great opportunity to work with a well established and highly recognized corporation in the world market," said Mr. Lazopoulos. "DNE is a highly respected world leader in the international citrus movement. Its staff and associated partners are highly professional yet kind, helpful and sincere. They are a great group of colleagues, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them under the DNE banner."
For now, Mr. Lazopoulos is headquartered at DNE's North Brunswick, NJ, facility. The company recently purchased a building near the port of Philadelphia, which it plans to develop into a cold storage and repacking facility for imports. Mr. Hanks said tht the company hopes it will be operational by early 2007. Mr. Lazopoulos will oversee operations at the new location.
DNE is looking forward to a large clementine crop this season, with ample supplies for gift boxes. However, fruit size is running a little smaller than normal.
"The fruit will be a size down from last year," said Mr. Hanks. "Last season, size 28s and larger represented 80 percent of the crop. This year, about 60 percent appear to be 28s and larger. Size can affect the number of pieces that go into the box. The crop quality is excellent this year, however; color is very good and we will be about a week ahead with product. The movement from Morocco is usually earlier than Spain, but there may be some overlap as vessels begin to arrive. Supplies should be solid for our mid-season bag program in January, which is an important promotional period."
DNE has done bagged programs on a small scale in the past couple of years, but it is now placing stronger emphasis on the item. The two-pound mesh bag has a colorful overlay that features the "Ocean Spray" name, and it has a carrying handle for added consumer convenience. Mr. Hanks said that the item did very well in the company's summer program and is considered perfect for pre- and post-holiday sales. He added that it is also expected to perform very well in Thanksgiving promotions.
"The first vessels are scheduled to arrive in late October," he said. "Fruit from Morocco should come in about the same time. These clementine program runs through about mid March."
Mr. Lazopoulos said that DNE began its "Ocean Spray" pineapple program about three years ago. Its strategy is to increase the movement in the near future.
"We have relationships with growers in Costa Rica for Gold Extra Sweet pineapples, also known as the MD-2," said Mr. Lazopoulos. "DNE currently brings in three to five containers weekly but plans to increase the movement to between five and 10 containers weekly by the end of the year. The company is collaborating with new growers in this effort. Most of the pineapples have, until now, been shipped to customers in the eastern portion of the U.S., but we plan to move the program into the West as volumes increase."
Mr. Lazopoulos said that the high quality of the fruit makes it a perfect item for the consumer-familiar and highly regarded "Ocean Spray" name. Major chain retailers have already shown positive responses, and DNE expects the item to be successful in all areas where it is placed.
"We are very happy to have John on board with us," said Mark Hanks, DNE's vice president of sales and marketing for North America. "He brings a world of experience with him to our company. The retailers we have spoken to know and are fond of him, and they look forward to working with him. He is also a perfect fit with our growers. Those in Spain and Morocco feel he will be a true asset to our ongoing partner-relationships.
Greg Nelson, DNE's president, is also thrilled with John's appointment. He agrees that he is a highly professional and conscientious individual who has a wealth of experience and knowledge. It is a win-win situation for us all."
Before joining DNE, Mr. Lazopoulos was at Lazopoulos Fruit & Importing LLC & Global Pacific, the exclusive import agent of South African organic grapes shipped into North America. Prior to that, he was in sales, marketing, quality control and operations for Paganini Foods LLC, an importer of Italian specialty produce. In his career, Mr. Lazopoulos served as general manager and partner of Albert's Organics/EarthStar Organics, where his responsibilities included overseeing the corporation which then generated more than $50 million in sales annually. He also worked for Global Pacific Produce Inc. as director of sales and marketing, as general manager of eastern North America for the Oppenheimer Group in Vancouver, BC, and was co-founder and president of Punelli-Lazopoulos Inc., a broker, sales agent and distributor of domestic grapes and fruit.
Mr. Lazopoulos is equally happy about joining DNE and with his new position in the firm's important clementine division.
"This is a great opportunity to work with a well established and highly recognized corporation in the world market," said Mr. Lazopoulos. "DNE is a highly respected world leader in the international citrus movement. Its staff and associated partners are highly professional yet kind, helpful and sincere. They are a great group of colleagues, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with them under the DNE banner."
For now, Mr. Lazopoulos is headquartered at DNE's North Brunswick, NJ, facility. The company recently purchased a building near the port of Philadelphia, which it plans to develop into a cold storage and repacking facility for imports. Mr. Hanks said tht the company hopes it will be operational by early 2007. Mr. Lazopoulos will oversee operations at the new location.
DNE is looking forward to a large clementine crop this season, with ample supplies for gift boxes. However, fruit size is running a little smaller than normal.
"The fruit will be a size down from last year," said Mr. Hanks. "Last season, size 28s and larger represented 80 percent of the crop. This year, about 60 percent appear to be 28s and larger. Size can affect the number of pieces that go into the box. The crop quality is excellent this year, however; color is very good and we will be about a week ahead with product. The movement from Morocco is usually earlier than Spain, but there may be some overlap as vessels begin to arrive. Supplies should be solid for our mid-season bag program in January, which is an important promotional period."
DNE has done bagged programs on a small scale in the past couple of years, but it is now placing stronger emphasis on the item. The two-pound mesh bag has a colorful overlay that features the "Ocean Spray" name, and it has a carrying handle for added consumer convenience. Mr. Hanks said that the item did very well in the company's summer program and is considered perfect for pre- and post-holiday sales. He added that it is also expected to perform very well in Thanksgiving promotions.
"The first vessels are scheduled to arrive in late October," he said. "Fruit from Morocco should come in about the same time. These clementine program runs through about mid March."
Mr. Lazopoulos said that DNE began its "Ocean Spray" pineapple program about three years ago. Its strategy is to increase the movement in the near future.
"We have relationships with growers in Costa Rica for Gold Extra Sweet pineapples, also known as the MD-2," said Mr. Lazopoulos. "DNE currently brings in three to five containers weekly but plans to increase the movement to between five and 10 containers weekly by the end of the year. The company is collaborating with new growers in this effort. Most of the pineapples have, until now, been shipped to customers in the eastern portion of the U.S., but we plan to move the program into the West as volumes increase."
Mr. Lazopoulos said that the high quality of the fruit makes it a perfect item for the consumer-familiar and highly regarded "Ocean Spray" name. Major chain retailers have already shown positive responses, and DNE expects the item to be successful in all areas where it is placed.
