Key Stats
$8.48 billion
$1.41 billion
35,371
Dublin, Ireland
NYSE: DOLE
Dole plc stands as one of the largest fresh produce companies in the world. The company sources, processes, markets, and distributes fruits and vegetables across more than 75 countries.
Dole operates through three primary segments: Fresh Fruit, Diversified Fresh Produce EMEA, and Diversified Fresh Produce Americas and ROW. The Fresh Fruit segment handles bananas and pineapples sourced from Latin American farms.
The company maintains partnerships with major brands. PepsiCo sells bottled fruit beverages under the Dole brand through a licensing agreement. Dole also works with The Walt Disney Company to promote fruit and vegetable consumption among children through branded character stickers and co-branded recipes.
Dole plc History
Samuel Northrup Castle and Amos Starr Cooke establish Castle and Cooke in Hawaii. The company invests in shipping, railroads, and sugar production.
James Dole founds the Hawaiian Pineapple Company on the island of Oahu. He opens his first pineapple plantation on the central plateau.
James Dole purchases the Hawaiian island of Lanai and transforms it into the largest pineapple plantation in the world.
Castle and Cooke acquires the Hawaiian Pineapple Company and Standard Fruit Company. The Hawaiian Pineapple Company becomes a subsidiary renamed Dole Company.
Castle and Cooke renames itself to The Dole Food Company, Inc. This reflects the strength and recognition of the Dole brand in global markets.
Dole sells its worldwide packaged foods and Asia fresh produce businesses to Itochu Corporation for $1.7 billion.
Irish company Total Produce acquires a 45% stake in Dole Food Company. This partnership positions both companies for future consolidation.
Dole Food Company merges with Total Produce plc to create Dole plc. The combined company lists on the New York Stock Exchange in July 2021.
Dole plc Co-founders
Samuel Northrup Castle
Co-founded Castle and Cooke in 1851 in Hawaii. Castle served as a missionary and businessman who helped establish the company’s early investments in Hawaiian agriculture and shipping.
Amos Starr Cooke
Co-founded Castle and Cooke alongside Samuel Castle. Cooke contributed to building one of Hawaii’s largest companies through strategic investments in sugar production and infrastructure.
James Dole
Founded the Hawaiian Pineapple Company in 1901. Known as the Pineapple King, James Dole pioneered commercial pineapple cultivation and helped popularize the fruit across America.
Dole plc Revenue
Dole plc generated $8.48 billion in revenue during fiscal year 2024. This represents a 2.79% increase from the previous year’s $8.25 billion.
The company’s revenue growth accelerated significantly following the 2021 merger with Total Produce. Combined operations nearly doubled annual revenue from $4.35 billion in 2020 to $8.02 billion in 2022.
Dole plc Market Cap
Dole plc maintains a market capitalization of approximately $1.41 billion as of late 2024. The company trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DOLE.
Since its July 2021 IPO at $5.64 billion, Dole’s market cap has declined significantly. The stock reached its lowest point in 2022 at $915 million before recovering in subsequent years.
Dole plc Acquisitions
Dole plc has pursued strategic acquisitions throughout its history to expand product offerings and geographic reach. The most significant transaction came in 2021 when Dole Food Company merged with Total Produce plc. This merger created one of the world’s largest fresh produce companies with combined operations spanning over 30 countries.
Prior to the merger, Dole expanded through several key acquisitions. The company acquired Bud Antle Inc., a California vegetable company, in the 1980s. Between 1985 and 1990, Dole purchased multiple West Coast fruit and nut producers including Bonner Packing Company and Wells and Wade Fruit Company.
Total Produce, the Irish company that merged with Dole, built its own acquisition history. Its roots trace back to McCann Fruit established in the 1850s in Ireland. Through decades of consolidation, this business evolved into Fruit Importers of Ireland in 1858 and eventually rebranded as Total Produce plc in 2006. The company purchased Whole Foods supplier relationships and expanded across European markets.
In 2024, Dole divested its Fresh Vegetables division. The company sold the segment to Arable Capital Partners for $140 million. This sale allowed Dole to focus on its core fresh fruit business and strengthen its balance sheet.
Dole plc Competitors
Dole plc operates in the competitive fresh produce industry alongside several major players. The company faces competition from both specialized produce companies and large food service distributors.
| Company | Headquarters | Primary Products |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Del Monte Produce | Coral Gables, Florida | Bananas, pineapples, packaged salads |
| Chiquita Brands International | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Bananas, tropical fruits |
| Sysco Corporation | Houston, Texas | Food distribution, fresh produce |
| Taylor Farms | Salinas, California | Packaged salads, fresh-cut vegetables |
| US Foods | Rosemont, Illinois | Food distribution, produce |
| Del Monte Foods | Walnut Creek, California | Canned fruits, vegetables |
| Driscoll’s | Watsonville, California | Berries |
| Calavo Growers | Santa Paula, California | Avocados, prepared foods |
| Fyffes | Dublin, Ireland | Bananas, tropical produce |
| Sunkist Growers | Valencia, California | Citrus fruits |
FAQs
Who founded Dole plc?
James Dole founded the Hawaiian Pineapple Company in 1901, which later became Dole. Castle and Cooke, founded by Samuel Castle and Amos Cooke in 1851, acquired the company and eventually renamed itself Dole Food Company in 1991.
Where is Dole plc headquartered?
Dole plc is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company maintains its US headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. This structure resulted from the 2021 merger between Dole Food Company and Irish company Total Produce plc.
What products does Dole plc sell?
Dole sells over 300 fresh produce products including bananas, pineapples, grapes, berries, avocados, and vegetables. The company serves retailers, wholesalers, and foodservice customers in more than 75 countries through its global distribution network.
When did Dole plc go public?
Dole plc began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 30, 2021. The IPO followed the merger between Dole Food Company and Total Produce plc, creating one of the world’s largest fresh produce companies.
How many employees does Dole plc have?
Dole plc employs approximately 35,371 full-time workers as of December 2024. The company operates processing plants, distribution centers, and farms across more than 30 countries worldwide.
