Dole plc (NYSE: DOLE)

Dole plc, known by its stock symbol DOLE, is a prominent player in the fresh fruits and vegetables industry. The company boasts a wide array of over 300 products, sourced from more than 30 countries across the globe, under its iconic DOLE brand. Dole's operations span various regions, including the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Dole's primary business activities encompass three main segments: Fresh Fruit, Diversified Fresh Produce - EMEA, and Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW. The Fresh Fruit segment is a leading producer and distributor of bananas and pineapples, with sourcing primarily taking place in Latin America from local growers and Dole-owned or leased farms. The Diversified Fresh Produce - EMEA segment manages Dole's businesses in several countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the U.K., Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, and Brazil. These entities sell a variety of imported and locally sourced fresh fruits and vegetables through retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and foodservice channels. The Diversified Fresh Produce - Americas & ROW segment includes Dole's U.S., Canadian, Chilean, Peruvian, Mexican, and Argentinian businesses, marketing globally and locally sourced fresh produce.

Dole's competitive advantages stem from its established global and local leadership in the fresh produce industry, a highly diversified product and service offering, sourcing and customer base, the iconic DOLE brand, and strong control over the supply chain through its vertically-integrated business model. The company's capacity to consistently deliver high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables to customers worldwide is a crucial differentiator.

Key customers of Dole include leading retail, wholesale, and foodservice entities, primarily situated in North America, Latin America, and Europe. The company's products are distributed and marketed in more than 75 countries across various channels, such as retail, wholesale, foodservice, and e-commerce.

In terms of sustainability, Dole has made substantial progress in reducing its environmental impact. Measures include a 12% reduction in overall Scope 1 and Scope 2 global emissions from 2020 and a 5% increase in overall Scope 3 emissions from 2020. Dole has also committed to reducing its absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050 from a 2020 base year and its absolute Forest, Land, and Agriculture emissions by 72% by 2050 from a 2020 base year.

Dole's organizational structure consists of various subsidiaries, joint ventures, and affiliate companies worldwide. The only significant subsidiary as of December 31, 2023, was Dole Fresh Fruit Company, a U.S. operating company. Dole's property, plant, and equipment include a diverse range of tangible fixed assets, primarily focused in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, comprising farms, warehouses, coolers, packhouses, processing facilities, port facilities, and office space.