1. Dole plc
Headquarters: Ireland
2026 projected revenue: ~US$6.8–7.0bn (global)
Employees: ~38,500
European strongholds: UK, Ireland, Nordics, Iberia, Benelux
Why Dole leads Europe in 2026
Dole remains the most structurally powerful fresh produce company operating in Europe. Its advantage is geographic balance.
- Dominant supplier to UK and Nordic retailers, where import reliance is highest
- Strong banana, grape, berry and salad programmes
- Deep ripening and cold-chain infrastructure in Northern Europe
- High dependency from UK multiples on Dole-managed year-round supply
Sustainability positioning
- Advanced Scope 3 tracking across farming, shipping and ripening
- Early alignment with CSRD reporting frameworks
- Emissions reduction focused on maritime transport and packaging optimisation
Dole’s strength in high-import markets separates it from Central-Europe-focused competitors.
2. Greenyard
Headquarters: Belgium
2026 projected net sales: ~€5.4bn
Employees: ~8,600
European strongholds: Germany, Benelux, Central & Eastern Europe
Why Greenyard closed the gap
Greenyard is now Europe’s most retail-embedded produce supplier.
- Long-term strategic partnerships with major continental retailers
- Strongest presence in Germany and Central Europe
- Integrated fresh, frozen and prepared produce platform
- Reduced exposure to spot-market volatility
Sustainability positioning
- CSRD-aligned reporting already embedded
- Heavy focus on Scope 3 emissions from grower networks
- Retail-backed decarbonisation targets across vegetables and apples
Greenyard’s scale in continental Europe is unmatched — but it is less dominant in the UK and Nordics than Dole.
3. Total Produce
Headquarters: Ireland
2026 estimated revenue: ~€3.7–3.9bn (historic standalone equivalent)
Employees: ~8,000+
European footprint: 25+ countries
Total Produce remains one of Europe’s most important distribution engines.
- Strong wholesale and foodservice exposure
- Multi-origin sourcing across EU and non-EU regions
- High speed-to-market capability
Its strategic relevance increased through closer integration with Dole’s global sourcing.
The Retailer Factor: The Real New Competitors
By 2026, Europe’s largest supermarkets are no longer just customers.
They are logistics operators.
These in-house platforms now compete directly with traditional suppliers on scale, efficiency and cost.
Key in-house retail sourcing giants
- Lidl Socomo
- Centralised global sourcing arm for Lidl
- Direct grower contracts
- Own ripening, shipping and QC programmes
- Edeka Fruchtkontor
- Controls a significant share of Germany’s fresh produce imports
- Acts as both buyer and distributor
- Major competitor to Greenyard within Germany
These entities do not appear in traditional rankings, yet they remove billions of euros of volume from the open supplier market.
Ignoring them is a major gap in most competitor articles.
4. Fresh Del Monte Produce
2026 revenue: ~US$9bn (global)
Employees: ~45,000
Strengths remain in tropical fruit, shipping control and fresh-cut operations.
Less dominant in retailer-managed supply chains than Dole or Greenyard.
5. Fyffes
2026 estimated revenue: ~€1.1bn
Still a banana category heavyweight, but increasingly pressured by retailer in-house imports.
6. Anecoop
2026 estimated revenue: ~€950m–1bn
Grower control remains its main strength.
Increasing focus on Scope 3 reduction at farm level.
7. Bonduelle
2026 revenue: ~€2.4bn
Vegetable category authority.
Strong CSRD positioning due to processing transparency.
8. The Greenery
Northern European grower relevance remains high.
Pressure rising from retailer-direct sourcing.
9. Grupo Alimentario Citrus
Citrus scale player.
Export-led model remains strong for EU winter programmes.
10. Zespri Europe
Single-category dominance.
High-margin, low-volume influence.
Quick Data Comparison (2026)
| Company | 2026 revenue | Core advantage |
| Dole plc | ~$7.0bn | UK & Nordic dominance |
| Greenyard | ~€5.4bn | Central Europe retail power |
| Lidl Socomo | Not disclosed | Retail-controlled logistics |
Sustainability And CSRD Impact (2026)
Across Europe, supplier rankings are now influenced by:
- CSRD compliance readiness
- Scope 3 emissions measurement
- Farm-to-store carbon transparency
- Packaging reduction and logistics optimisation
Companies gaining advantage:
- Dole (shipping + ripening emissions control)
- Greenyard (retail-aligned Scope 3 reporting)
- Bonduelle (processed + fresh traceability)
Companies losing leverage:
- Spot traders
- Importers without emissions reporting
- Small distributors outside retailer programmes
Editorial Notes – research basis
Information compiled and cross-checked using:
- Latest company annual and sustainability reports
- Public 2025/2026 revenue projections
- Retail sourcing disclosures
- European CSRD implementation guidance
- Industry consensus on retailer vertical integration
Revenue figures are rounded and forward-looking, reflecting 2026 operating reality rather than historic snapshots.
