Dole Food Company

The Dole Food Company is the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers and packaged foods. The company’s 2011 revenues were US$7.2 billion.

In 1851, Castle & Cooke was founded in Hawaii by missionaries Samuel Northrup Castle and Amos Starr Cooke. In 1901, James Dole founded the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. Dole, who would be remembered as the ‘Pineapple King’, established his first pineapple plantation in the central plateau of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

In 1932, Castle & Cooke purchased a 21% interest in the Hawaiian Pineapple Company. In 1972, Castle & Cooke discontinue the use the ‘Cabana’ label that had been used by Standard Fruit Company and introduced the ‘Dole’ label in its place.

From 1972 to 1992, Castle & Cooke made numerous acquisitions and divestures. The company increased its holding in shipping assets and containers. In the 1960s, Castle & Cooke acquired the remainder of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company and the Standard Fruit Company.

In 1991, Castle & Cook changed it corporate name to Dole Food Company, Inc. Commensurate with this change, the company reorganized, placing all fruit and vegetable operations under the name of Dole Food Company.

Since 2002, American David Murdock has been the sole owner of Dole; he also serves as its chief executive officer.
Dole Food Company