DELANO, CA & FORT PIERCE, FL - Wonderful Citrus, a leading grower, shipper, and packer of fresh citrus, has announced a set of strategic acquisitions in Florida. The company has purchased DNE World Fruit and DNE International, a leading Florida citrus marketer and exporter, respectively. Additionally, the company has purchased the assets of World Pack Cold Storage, a division of DNE Imports.
“The addition of DNE and World Pack to the Wonderful Citrus family significantly enhances our ability to serve customers year-round with a variety of fresh citrus offerings,” said David Krause, President of Wonderful Citrus, according to a press release. “We’re thrilled that this makes us the top grapefruit distributor in America and allows us to serve as the exclusive marketer for all of DNE’s Florida citrus.”
Wonderful Citrus is acquiring DNE’s citrus marketing and import business, along with World Pack’s cold storage, bagging, repack, and distribution center in New Jersey. This acquisition, combined with the other strategic acquisitions such as I. Kunik Company and B&S Grupo Exportador in 2016, position Wonderful Citrus to continue climbing as a leading importer of counter-seasonal citrus products in the U.S., while doubling the company’s grapefruit position.
“Wonderful Citrus is a well-respected leader within the fresh citrus industry,” said Greg Nelson, President of DNE World Fruit, according to the statement. “The opportunity to significantly expand our sales reach and access new markets was a very attractive part of this deal. We look forward to teaming up with Wonderful to better leverage our collective strengths in the global citrus marketplace.”
DNE’s sales employees will be offered positions with Wonderful Citrus, and Greg Nelson will stay on with the company as an advisor.
