Apeel Sciences names produce supply chain veterans to leadership team
Apeel Sciences has promoted Ryan Fink to senior vice president of the Americas and named Marius du Plessis its chief commercial officer in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In leading business initiatives in their respective markets, du Plessis’ and Fink’s extensive produce supply chain experience will help strengthen Apeel’s core commercial business, improving supply network value and expanding market growth in Europe and the Americas, the company said in a news release.
The Goleta, Calif.-based Apeel offers solutions aimed at better ensuring freshness and quality of produce.
Fink has been with Apeel for over two years. He began as senior director major accounts and later served as vice president before his most recent promotion. Fink previously worked for Mission Produce for more than a decade, ultimately as vice president of North American operations.
Apeel said in the release that with his knowledge of operational and commercial challenges facing produce suppliers, Fink is focused on aiding the continued growth of the company’s avocado business, as well as developing new business opportunities for the network of over 30 avocado, lime and apple suppliers across the Americas.
“We’ve learned a great deal in our first few years operating our commercial business and are making significant shifts in the way we work with suppliers to ensure they are realizing the benefits of our technology,” Fink said in the release. “With the help of improvements to our treatment processes and continued product development, we’ve made it easier and more cost-efficient to operate within our suppliers' packing houses. Many of our early supply partners are also taking advantage of new ways to integrate our technology into their businesses to create more differentiation for the products they offer.”
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The company says Apeel-protection is currently available on 15% of the U.S. avocado market, and it estimates that will double this year.
“The product’s ability to extend the time at peak ripeness by nearly three days was recently validated in a study with the University of Illinois, giving shoppers a better chance to enjoy the avocados they buy,” Apeel said in the release. “In partnership with suppliers and retailers, Apeel is dedicated to ensuring the ideal level of avocado ripeness can be on shelf for the consumers.”
Du Plessis has over 20 years of produce experience, including as a C-level executive of industry-leading fresh produce companies, as well as produce branding experience in Jaffa citrus and Clemengold, according to the release.
“Marius has an excellent network in the produce industry and spends most of his time with the customer and supply base in their respective businesses and territories to gain an intimate understanding of their needs,” Apeel said in the release.
The company said its entry into Europe, the Middle East and Africa was driven by early partners, including global produce importer Nature’s Pride, German grocery retailer Edeka and a network of citrus suppliers in Spain. Du Plessis will support the continued success of those partners, which includes increasing the value Apeel’s technology can deliver, improving operational efficiency and enabling new growth opportunities for their businesses, according to the release.
“I am very excited to work closely with the leaders in Europe’s fresh food supply chain who are leveraging the additional time provided by Apeel’s plant-based protection to unlock new opportunities for the food system,” du Plessis said in the release. “Reducing the environmental impact of our food system is very important. Apeel can directly contribute to support Europe’s F2F objectives by giving suppliers and grocers a better way to manage their channels to drive efficiency and quality, and helping to prevent food waste in consumers’ homes.”
Apeel says it can help retailers meet the increasing demand among shoppers in Europe for environmentally friendly options. The company anticipates approval for its use on edible skin products in Switzerland by the end of the year, which would have the potential to make progress in removing the use of single-use plastics on products such as cucumbers, according to the release.
Apeel-protected avocados, limes, cucumbers and apples are available at select retailers across the U.S. and Canada. In Europe, Apeel-protected citrus and avocados are available at select retailers. A locator is available at apeel.com.
