On Jan. 1, 2016, Splendid Products LLC, Burlingame, CA, changed its name and its ownership while celebrating its 40th anniversary as a going concern in the fresh produce industry, specializing in the mango business.

On that date, founder and manager Larry Nienkerk turned over control of the firm to a partnership that includes his son Michael Nienkerk, as well as veteran employee Sergio Palala and longtime supplier Daniel Ibarra of Agricola Daniella, Sinaloa, Mexico. The new name is Splendid by Porvenir, which is a tribute to Ibarra’s hometown. Palala said the word also connotes the future. It literally translates as “arise from” but he said it signifies a “change” and a “new way” moving forward. Ibarra is the new company president while Palala was named general manager. Michael Nienkerk will continue to handle sales along with his father, who will remain with the firm in a sales consultant role.

“He’s a super salesman,” said Palala of the elder Nienkerk. Palala was hired by the company’s founder more than 30 years ago as an accountant for the firm. For most of those years, however, Palala was in charge of procurement for the firm, working with its various suppliers throughout Mexico and in other mango-producing regions.

Larry Nienkerk said the opportunity to sell the company and begin to ease into retirement presented itself and he couldn’t turn it down. As he approaches the age of 67, Nienkerk said he wants to travel and do several other activities while he can still enjoy them. However, he reiterated that he would be on the sales desk throughout the Mexican mango season this year, from March through August.

“I could not be happier about the way this is working out,” he said, noting that he has had some great long-term employees who have the opportunity to move forward with the new operation.

And Nienkerk said Ibarra has been a major supplier of mangos for Splendid for more than 25 years. “I have known the Ibarra family both professionally and personally for many years and there couldn’t be a better situation for us.”

Nienkerk got his start in the produce industry working for C.H. Robinson in Minnesota in 1971. “I learned the business from the ground up,” he said. “C.H. Robinson was an excellent teacher and an excellent company.”

Within a year of joining the firm, he was transferred to the company’s San Francisco office, where he remained until he started the precursor to Splendid in 1976. He started that company with the backing of the Tavilla produce family of Boston and it wore the Tavilla name for close to 20 years. Eventually, Nienkerk and partner J.B. Cutsinger renamed the firm Splendid Products and remained partners in the operation until just three years ago. At that point, they split up the business with Cutsinger forming International Citrus and Produce and Nienkerk retaining Splendid Products and the mango business.

While Splendid by Porvenir has made a seamless transition from Splendid Products and the current and past owners are touting the continuity in the change, Palala said the inclusion of the Ibarra family does create an opportunity for greater collaboration. He said with a partner in Mexico, the supply side of the equation will gain more perspective. The firm plans to increase its volume with greater connection to the grower community. And Palala said access to crop information should also be enhanced.