Dandrea Produce increases stature in Chilean fruit deal
Dandrea Produce increases stature in Chilean fruit deal
Dandrea Produce will double its Chilean fruit volume this year as the result of the acquisition of a 50 percent interest in a partnership between a Chilean grower and a U.S.-based importer.
According to Steve Dandrea, who is involved in sales for Landisville, NJ-based Dandrea Produce, his company acquired a 50 percent share in the partnership between importer Andes River in Cherry Hill, NJ, and Copefrut, a grower based in Chile. Mr. Dandrea said that Copefrut is one of Chile's larger growers of stone fruit, apples and cherries, and it also handles grapes and kiwifruit.
Dandrea Produce has had a four-year relationship with Andes River, selling product imported by that company, according to Mr. Dandrea, who said that the acquisition by Dandrea actually occurred about a year ago prior to the start of last years Chilean fruit deal.
"Weve been looking to expand globally, and this has fueled our growth, especially with the grape, stone fruit, cherry and imported apple categories," Mr. Dandrea told The Produce News.
The move is in line with our philosophy of a grower-direct concept, added Mr. Dandrea, who said that the basis for Dandrea Produces business plan both domestically and abroad is to secure volume from growers and offer program pricing for retailers. Basically, the growers appreciate the access to the retailers that we provide, and the retailers appreciate the stability of the volume and prices of the product we provide, so it is a win-win situation.
The key is producing the right quality at a fair price, he continued. All our stone fruit from Chile will be preconditioned and tree-ripe, so that ensures consistency of flavor.
Mr. Dandrea said that Andes River will close its office in Cherry Hill, and personnel will relocate to Dandreas Buena, NJ, facility or to an office at the port of Wilmington, DE, a major receiving point for Chilean shipments.
Two key members of the Andes River staff will play major roles in Dandreas increased prominence in the Chilean deal.
George Gepp, who Mr. Dandrea said is highly respected in Chile and the United States, and who has over 20 years of experience handling Chilean fruit, will split his time between the Wilmington location and the Buena, NJ, site.
George has tremendous logistics abilities, and he is currently pursuing partnerships in South Africa and Latin America for citrus and melon programs, said Mr. Dandrea. He has extensive worldwide contacts, and we are planning to have him shepherd our growth on a global scale.
Bob Long, who also worked at Andes River, has an extensive sales background and brings coveted accounts with him, according to Mr. Dandrea. He will work primarily from the Buena location and will concentrate on boosting Copefruts apple program.
To help facilitate the extra business Dandrea is anticipating, Mr. Dandrea said that the company invested $250,000 in new computer software from Famous Software. Designed specifically for produce applications, Mr. Dandrea said that the software has a number of features that will help the company operate in a more efficient manner.
In other business, Mr. Dandrea said that his company is eagerly awaiting the start of the Spanish clementine season, which he said will kick off Oct. 26. Sizing will be small until about Thanksgiving, he said, and then it will increase tremendously. Were expecting to increase our volume by one-third this year.
According to Steve Dandrea, who is involved in sales for Landisville, NJ-based Dandrea Produce, his company acquired a 50 percent share in the partnership between importer Andes River in Cherry Hill, NJ, and Copefrut, a grower based in Chile. Mr. Dandrea said that Copefrut is one of Chile's larger growers of stone fruit, apples and cherries, and it also handles grapes and kiwifruit.
Dandrea Produce has had a four-year relationship with Andes River, selling product imported by that company, according to Mr. Dandrea, who said that the acquisition by Dandrea actually occurred about a year ago prior to the start of last years Chilean fruit deal.
"Weve been looking to expand globally, and this has fueled our growth, especially with the grape, stone fruit, cherry and imported apple categories," Mr. Dandrea told The Produce News.
The move is in line with our philosophy of a grower-direct concept, added Mr. Dandrea, who said that the basis for Dandrea Produces business plan both domestically and abroad is to secure volume from growers and offer program pricing for retailers. Basically, the growers appreciate the access to the retailers that we provide, and the retailers appreciate the stability of the volume and prices of the product we provide, so it is a win-win situation.
The key is producing the right quality at a fair price, he continued. All our stone fruit from Chile will be preconditioned and tree-ripe, so that ensures consistency of flavor.
Mr. Dandrea said that Andes River will close its office in Cherry Hill, and personnel will relocate to Dandreas Buena, NJ, facility or to an office at the port of Wilmington, DE, a major receiving point for Chilean shipments.
Two key members of the Andes River staff will play major roles in Dandreas increased prominence in the Chilean deal.
George Gepp, who Mr. Dandrea said is highly respected in Chile and the United States, and who has over 20 years of experience handling Chilean fruit, will split his time between the Wilmington location and the Buena, NJ, site.
George has tremendous logistics abilities, and he is currently pursuing partnerships in South Africa and Latin America for citrus and melon programs, said Mr. Dandrea. He has extensive worldwide contacts, and we are planning to have him shepherd our growth on a global scale.
Bob Long, who also worked at Andes River, has an extensive sales background and brings coveted accounts with him, according to Mr. Dandrea. He will work primarily from the Buena location and will concentrate on boosting Copefruts apple program.
To help facilitate the extra business Dandrea is anticipating, Mr. Dandrea said that the company invested $250,000 in new computer software from Famous Software. Designed specifically for produce applications, Mr. Dandrea said that the software has a number of features that will help the company operate in a more efficient manner.
In other business, Mr. Dandrea said that his company is eagerly awaiting the start of the Spanish clementine season, which he said will kick off Oct. 26. Sizing will be small until about Thanksgiving, he said, and then it will increase tremendously. Were expecting to increase our volume by one-third this year.
