Dole plc
Membership Status:
Membership Pending
Sector:
Horticulture
About the company
With origins dating back to a modest fruit and vegetable wholesale business, McCann Fruit, in 1850's Dundalk, Dole plc is an Irish success story having grown into what is today, the world's leading fresh produce provider. Irish at heart, global by nature, Dole plc operates out of over 30 countries while serving many more. Growing, sourcing, importing, packaging, marketing and distributing over 300 lines of fresh produce, Group operations extend across the globe incorporating some 120,000 acres of production and over 260 facilities including farms, vessels, manufacturing facilities, cold storage warehousing and packhouses. Here at home, Dole Ireland operates out of twelve distribution centres across the island, serving retail, wholesale and food service customers nationwide. Fresh produce is, of course, an extraordinary sector to operate in. It is, after all, the most nutritious of foods with amongst the lowest environmental footprints. Dole Ireland takes the responsibilities that come with being a leader in this special industry very seriously. Committed to responsible practices at production and across the supply chain and uncompromising in pursuit of best practices across Group operations, Dole Ireland's Vision 20/25 sustainability initiative has seen the group aggressively promote a sustainability agenda over the last three years, both here at home and across its global operations.
Key Sustainability Commitments
Spotlight Target Area: Diversity & Inclusion
All employees at Dole Ireland bring with them a diverse set of perspectives, work, and life experiences. The company recognises that it can only be stronger by recognising these differences and learning to respect and value everyone, regardless of their makeup. In 2021, Dole Ireland developed the first How To Talk About Guide. It informs employees on different areas included in Diversity and Inclusion. The company aim to continue the 'How To Talk About' guides in 2022. Dole Ireland strives for an inclusive culture, where a mix of people can come to work, and feel comfortable and confident to be their true selves.Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/topfruit/ https://twitter.com/tpireland?lang=en https://www.linkedin.com/company/total-produce-bv/Exemplary Performance Target Areas
Minimum Origin Green Targets Required Annually = 7
Spotlight Target Area: Raw Material Sourcing
Total Produce aspires to lead their industry, not only commercially, but also in terms of responsible trading practices. Total Produce’s company values of Collaboration, Integrity, Consumer Empow-erment, Local at Heart and Growing Together are the platform for their sustainability agenda. The Total Produce ‘e-Plan’ is the sustainable group programme developed
to assure best economic, environmental and social practices are implemented across their operations. ‘e-Plan’ details the overall direction of group efforts to improve collective sustainability while localised technical plans, including their Origin Green Charter Plan, outline specific targets and timelines.
Supporting Responsible Suppliers
Under their Origin Green plan led by Maire McDonnell, Group Brand Manager, Total Produce had their Origin Green plan verified in 2017. The company set a target of sourcing 100% of its Irish produce from growers that participate in Bord Bia’s Sustainable Horticulture Quality Assurance Scheme and other produce sourced from growers and companies that participate in other certified schemes such as Global GAP (Good Agricultural Practice) and BRC (British Retail Consortium). In 2019 they achieved a 39% increase from 2018 in this target area.
Total Produce achieved an exemplary performance in this target area for 2019 for the way in which it works with its suppliers to encourage them to maintain and retain their responsible sourcing status. They were instrumental in encouraging and supporting their suppliers to transition to Bord Bia’s new Sustainable Horticulture Assurance Scheme.
“Inspired by consumers passion for sustainability and recognising customer commitment to meet that demand, in Total Produce we’re determined to lead the way in our sector; ensuring best practices across the supply chain, reducing ever further the impact of our own operations and establishing ourselves as the supplier of choice for sustainable fresh produce.”
Des McCoy, CEO
