Westfalia Fruit has appointed Chris Bush, a former executive at Tesco, as its new CEO. With over three decades of experience at the UK retailer, Bush is set to take on this leadership role later this month.
Rian du Toit, who has served as the acting CEO following Alk Brand’s departure for agricultural supplies group Wynnstay earlier this year, will return to his position as CFO. Westfalia Fruit emphasized that Bush comes with a wealth of experience in grocery retail, having effectively managed complex multinational organizations across various geographical regions.
Bush’s most recent role was as divisional CEO of DFI Retail Group in Southeast Asia, where he was responsible for overseeing 1,500 stores across seven countries. Prior to this, he spent 32 years at Tesco, where he advanced to the role of UK managing director and gained valuable insights in markets across Europe, the United States, and Asia.
Westfalia Fruit’s chairman, Dr. Khotso Mokhele, expressed enthusiasm for Bush’s arrival: “After an extensive global search process, the board is delighted to welcome Bush as our new group chief executive. Chris is a seasoned CEO with exceptional strategic capabilities, proven operational effectiveness, and strong experience in retail, as well as working across a breadth of different countries and cultures.”
Bush joins Westfalia Fruit at a time of significant growth for the company, as it recently expanded its operations into Japan, India, and China. His leadership comes on the heels of a $300 million loan facility secured in April from HSBC, the International Finance Corporation, and Standard Bank, aimed at enhancing avocado production with new orchards and nurseries in Colombia, India, Chile, Mozambique, Peru, and South Africa.
Westfalia Fruit operates in orchards, packhouses, and offices across 16 countries and employs around 8,000 staff. While the company does not disclose specific sales figures, it supplies a wide range of retail and foodservice customers in the food and beverage industry.
On his new role, Bush remarked, “I am both honoured and delighted to be joining an organisation that is so clearly dedicated to innovation, product quality, and sustainability.”
As the food and drink business continues to evolve, Westfalia Fruit is positioned to leverage upcoming food and drink consumer trends, further solidifying its footprint in the global market.