Partnership will expand Fresh Del Monte’s presence in Southeast Asia

Fresh Del Monte Produce is partnering with Vietnam-based THACO Group to source bananas from THACO Agri’s operations, a regional producer with large-scale farming operations in Vietnam and Cambodia.

The partnership will expand Fresh Del Monte’s presence in Southeast Asia, and THACO AGRI will develop dedicated pineapple cultivation areas to meet Fresh Del Monte demand, according to a news release.

“Partnering with THACO AGRI is an important step in strengthening our sourcing capabilities in Southeast Asia,” said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, Fresh Del Monte chair and CEO. “Their scale and integrated-circular operations align with our long-term strategy to build a more resilient and diversified supply network.”

The partnership also supports Fresh Del Monte’s efforts to address rising global production challenges across the banana industry and reinforces the company’s commitment to supply-chain stability, according to the release.

THACO AGRI’s agricultural platform spans more than 85,000 hectares (210,000 acres) across Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, applying a large-scale integrated-circular and organic production model which includes fruit cultivation and livestock farming.

As part of the partnership, THACO INDUSTRIES, THACO’s mechanical engineering sub-holding, will work with Fresh Del Monte on mechanization and automation solutions.

“We highly appreciate our new partnership with Fresh Del Monte,” THACO chair Tran Ba Duong said. “This partnership is an important step for THACO AGRI’s agricultural operations, and we look forward to building a stable, long-term collaboration that supports both organizations.”