Irish at heart, global by nature
Dole's Irish roots extend right back to the 1850s to an apple orchard business serving the local community in Co. Armagh, owned and operated by the McCann family. This business would evolve into a fresh produce importation and wholesale business called ‘Charles McCann Fruit, Fish & Vegetable Market’ which traded across the north-east.
In 1958, Neil McCann assumed leadership of the family business, then called ‘McCann Fruit’ which was headquartered in Dundalk, Co. Louth. Over the next 30 years, McCann Fruit would grow to become Ireland’s largest fresh produce wholesaler, changing its name first, to United Fruit Importers and later, to Fruit Importers of Ireland (FII).
In 1981, FII became a publicly listed company. In 1986, while still under the stewardship of Neil McCann, the business entered the international fresh produce marketplace with the acquisition of the UK-based Fyffes Group, assuming its name and becoming Fyffes plc.
2006 would see Fyffes demerge, splitting into two distinct businesses, Fyffes plc and the newly formed Total Produce plc. With Neil McCann's son, Carl as Chairman, Total Produce plc would grow into Europe's largest fresh produce provider in its own right. In 2018 Total Produce plc acquired 45% of U.S. based Dole Food Company and, in 2021, acquired the remaining 55% share, listed on the New York Stock Exchange and adopted the ‘Dole’ name, to become ‘Dole plc’.
Headquartered beside Dublin's historic fruit market in Dublin City Centre, Dole plc continues to be chaired by Carl McCann and is today, the world's largest fresh produce company. Employing over 1,200 people in Ireland, Dole plc operates out of 13 trading facilities here, serving the retail, wholesale and foodservice sectors. True to our original roots as an apple producer in Armagh, we continue to work hand in glove with a network of the finest local Irish growers the length and breadth of the island, ensuring that local produce retains pride of place in our produce portfolio.
