AsiaNet 86384

SINGAPORE, Nov. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Joins with impressive track record from Unilever, in connecting

entrepreneurs and start-ups to create shared value

In a first for Dole Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd., Barbara Guerpillon has been

appointed Head of Dole Ventures across both packaged foods and its fresh

businesses.  Based in Singapore, the global strategic role is designed to

enable profitable business growth through start-up led innovations and the

creation of entrepreneurial networks worldwide, all to support The Dole Promise

with its ambitious goals in nutrition, sustainability and the creation of

shared value.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1323248/Barbara_019.jpg

Pier Luigi Sigismondi, President of Dole Packaged Foods, LLC, says Ms

Guerpillon's talent and experience will bring a significant boost to Dole's

drive to transform its business in line with The Dole Promise. "We have given

ourselves five years to deliver on our ambitious goals. These include providing

sustainable nutrition for a billion people, the elimination of processed sugar

from our products, zero fruit loss from our farms, zero emissions and zero

fossil-based packaging."

"Each of those goals is heroic, but we believe each is possible, as long as we

keep our eyes, ears and doors open to people with the smart ideas and

innovations that can move us quickly forward. Barbara has a real talent for

moving great ideas and entrepreneurs through a disciplined innovation pipeline

and we are very excited to have her on our team at the helm of Ventures.

Christian Wiegele, President Dole Asia Fresh, said, "This is an important

appointment across both our Fresh and Packaged businesses, reflecting our

ambition to partner with innovators, and to open up opportunities for immense

evolution as we find significant ways to continue to make our business a force

for good. One of the venture spaces I am personally excited about is Agri-tech,

which I believe can significantly contribute to The Dole Promise we made

earlier this year."

"Barbara, in her role, will also work very closely with Johann Albano, who we

recently promoted as Innovation Lead for our Asia Fresh business."

Ms Guerpillon brings to Dole a strong track record with the Unilever Foundry,

which connected corporate innovation, entrepreneurship and technology to

accelerate innovation and effectively pilot new technologies and product

innovations.  During her tenure she delivered 120 projects with start-ups

resulting in 25 pilots including nine product innovations, three retail

Innovations and four direct-to-consumer pilots.

Ms Guerpillon says Dole's clear signal is that it is open for innovation, with

its planned Sunshine for All Investment Fund an example of Dole's willingness

to work with innovators, start-ups and progressive partners to help deliver on

The Dole Promise.

"Our message is simple. We believe in the power of partnerships and we are

seriously in the place of working with start-ups to live up to our Promise. I

agree the goals are ambitious, but I have yet to meet leaders who lacked

ambition. We bring decades of experience in food production, nutritional

science, packaging, supply chain logistics and fast-moving consumer goods, so

our ability to fund, run and evaluate pilots will, I believe, be very

attractive to the rising generations of smart thinkers. We want to hear from

both investors and start-ups around the world" said Ms Guerpillon.

About The Dole Promise

In June 2020 Dole announced The Dole Promise, with its three pillars around

nutrition, sustainability and the creation of shared value.

Better for People: Access to sustainable nutrition for 1 billion people by

2025, moving towards zero processed sugar in all Dole products by 2025.

Better for Planet: zero fruit loss from Dole farms to markets by 2025, zero

fossil-based plastic packaging by 2025. net zero carbon emissions in Dole

operations by 2030

Better for all Stakeholders: Dole will continue to positively impact all

farmers, communities and people working for Dole – through its commitment to

equal opportunity, living wages, and an ever-increasing level of safety,

nutrition, and wellbeing. The company also seeks to advance human rights within

the direct operations and supply chains by building a culture of transparency

and accountability. The company also aims for a 50% increase in the value of

its business by 2025.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/152677/dole_packaged_foods_logo.jpg

SOURCE Dole Packaged Foods, LLC

CONTACT: Melissa Vigue, mvigue@peppercomm.com