Dole France has announced a new partnership with Primever to revive the Port of Sète in Southern France as a key hub for fruit imports. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in further optimising the company's supply chain and emphasises their determination to deliver an ever more sustainable and efficient route to market, linking as it does the strategic ports of Las Palmas and Valencia, before arriving in Sète every Friday.
In 2023, Dole France (part of Dole plc) invested in a state-of-the-art ripening facility in Sète, equipped with modern chambers for bananas, avocados, and mangoes. The arrival of the first vessel last Friday, March 7th, was therefore an important next step in the journey.
Prioritising sustainability with maritime transport
This new logistics model will streamline Dole's operations, reducing costs and significantly lowering the carbon footprint. "By focusing on maritime transport and cutting back on road freight for deliveries across southern France, we are improving supply chain efficiency, streamlining distribution, and reducing CO₂ emissions. Our use of citrus packing facilities within the terminal will yield further dividends in terms of cost savings. The direct shipping line from West and South Africa also creates new connections to South America, ensuring a steady flow of produce to southern France and the Mediterranean region while broadening our fruit-sourcing options. Looking ahead to the second half of 2025, optimised shipping routes will strengthen our ties with South America even further. With this initiative, Dole France reaffirms its commitment to responsible, high-performance logistics — benefiting our customers, consumers, partners, and the planet," said a spokesman from the company.
For more information:
Vincent Dolan
Dole plc
vincent.dolan@doleireland.com
Tel: +353 86 820 4936