Capital City Fruit's succession plan successfully completed
Capital City Fruit's succession plan successfully completed
Family-owned fresh produce distributor Capital City Fruit Co. in Des Moines, IA, has completed the transition of company leadership to the third generation of the Comito family, just in time to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2009.
The family business began in 1949 with founder Joseph T. Comito. His son, Joseph M. Comito, worked at Capital City Fruit, and in 1975 became president of the firm following the death of his father. Now, after 30 years of successfully leading the family business, three of Joe Comito's sons, Brendan, Christian and Kieran, have purchased his shares and have equal interests in the business.
"I once heard it said that you spend the first half of your life trying to be successful and the second half trying to be significant," Joe Comito said in a press release. "For me, part of that significance has now been realized with the successful transition of our Capital City Fruit livelihood to the next generation of Comitos. As a company leader, I am confident in their commitment to providing exceptional-quality produce and taking good care of our loyal customers and employees. And as a father, I am proud of these young, hard-working men who happen to be my sons."
Christian Comito, 37, has held the role of chief executive officer for the past four years, while Brendan Comito, 41, is chief operations officer, and Kieran Comito, 40, will continue in his role as produce account executive.
"This has been a thoughtful and well-planned transition," Christian Comito said in the release. "Fifteen years ago, my brothers and I started purchasing shares from our father, and five years ago, we began running the day-to-day operations. We made a vow to our father -- and that same vow is extended to our customers and employees -- that we will continue the tradition and commitment of providing exceptional fresh produce."
Under Joe Comito's leadership, the company grew from six employees to 120. He purchased the current warehouse facility in Norwalk, IA, where countless investments were made in adding to and expanding the operation. One of the more significant was the decision to get into tomato repacking in the late 1970s. Now the company handles over 100 different produce items on a daily basis.
Joe Comito will continue to serve as chairman of the board and still works at Capital City Fruit, where he buys tomatoes for the company's repack program.
"He is a great businessman and an expert in fresh produce," Brendan Comito said in the release. "We expect everyone will be as pleased as we are, and probably not at all surprised, that his commitment to serving is not going to end. He has set a pretty high bar for us, and we are committed to working hard every day to meet and exceed his and our customers' high standards."
The family business began in 1949 with founder Joseph T. Comito. His son, Joseph M. Comito, worked at Capital City Fruit, and in 1975 became president of the firm following the death of his father. Now, after 30 years of successfully leading the family business, three of Joe Comito's sons, Brendan, Christian and Kieran, have purchased his shares and have equal interests in the business.
"I once heard it said that you spend the first half of your life trying to be successful and the second half trying to be significant," Joe Comito said in a press release. "For me, part of that significance has now been realized with the successful transition of our Capital City Fruit livelihood to the next generation of Comitos. As a company leader, I am confident in their commitment to providing exceptional-quality produce and taking good care of our loyal customers and employees. And as a father, I am proud of these young, hard-working men who happen to be my sons."
Christian Comito, 37, has held the role of chief executive officer for the past four years, while Brendan Comito, 41, is chief operations officer, and Kieran Comito, 40, will continue in his role as produce account executive.
"This has been a thoughtful and well-planned transition," Christian Comito said in the release. "Fifteen years ago, my brothers and I started purchasing shares from our father, and five years ago, we began running the day-to-day operations. We made a vow to our father -- and that same vow is extended to our customers and employees -- that we will continue the tradition and commitment of providing exceptional fresh produce."
Under Joe Comito's leadership, the company grew from six employees to 120. He purchased the current warehouse facility in Norwalk, IA, where countless investments were made in adding to and expanding the operation. One of the more significant was the decision to get into tomato repacking in the late 1970s. Now the company handles over 100 different produce items on a daily basis.
Joe Comito will continue to serve as chairman of the board and still works at Capital City Fruit, where he buys tomatoes for the company's repack program.
"He is a great businessman and an expert in fresh produce," Brendan Comito said in the release. "We expect everyone will be as pleased as we are, and probably not at all surprised, that his commitment to serving is not going to end. He has set a pretty high bar for us, and we are committed to working hard every day to meet and exceed his and our customers' high standards."
