Forward-Looking Statements
In this Annual Report (the “Report”), references to “$” and “dollars” are to United States dollars. References in this Report to Fresh Del Monte, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. Percentages and certain amounts contained herein have been rounded for ease of presentation. Any discrepancies in any table between totals and the sums of amounts listed are due to rounding. As used herein, references to years ended 2008 through 2010 are to fiscal years ended December 26, 2008, January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010, respectively.
This Report, information included in future filings by us and information contained in written material, press releases and oral statements, issued by or on behalf of us contains, or may contain, statements that constitute forward-looking statements in particular, information in Item 1. Business and Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Trend Information, contained in this Report.. In this Report, these statements appear in a number of places and include statements regarding the intent, beliefs or current expectations of us or our officers (including statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates” or similar expressions) with respect to various matte
rs, including our plans and future performance. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Fresh Del Monte’s actual plans and performance may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including (i) the uncertain global economic environment and the timing and strength of a recovery in the markets we serve, and the extent to which adverse economic conditions continue to affect our sales volume and results, including our ability to command premium prices for certain of our principal products, or increase competitive pressures within the industry, (ii) the impact of governmental initiatives in the United States and abroad to spur economic activity, including the effects of significant government monetary or other market interventions on inflation, price controls and foreign exchange rates, (iii) the impact of governmental trade restrictions, including adverse governmental regulation that may impact our ab
ility to access certain markets, (iv) our anticipated cash needs in light of our liquidity, (v) the continued ability of our distributors and suppliers to have access to sufficient liquidity to fund their operations, (vi) trends and other factors affecting our financial condition or results of operations from period to period, including changes in product mix or consumer demand for branded products such as ours, particularly as consumers remain price-conscious in the current economic environment; anticipated price and expense levels; the impact of crop disease, severe weather conditions, such as the recent adverse weather conditions in our banana production areas, or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, on crop quality and yields and on our ability to grow, procure or export our products; the impact of prices for petroleum-based products and packaging materials; and the availability of sufficient labor during peak growing and harvesting seasons, (vii) the impact of pricing and oth
er actions by our competitors, particularly during periods of low consumer confidence and spending levels, (viii) the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, (ix) our plans for expansion of our business (including through acquisitions) and cost savings, (x) our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions into our operations, (xi) the impact of impairment or other charges associated with exit activities, crop or facility damage or otherwise, (xii) the timing and cost of resolution of pending legal and environmental proceedings, (xiii) the impact of changes in tax accounting or tax laws (or interpretations thereof), and the impact of settlements of adjustments proposed by the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authorities in connection with our tax audits, and (xiv) the cost and other implications of changes in regulations applicable to our business, including potential legislative or regulatory initiatives in the United States or elsewhere directed at mitigating the effects of climate
change. All forward-looking statements in this report are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. It is important to note that our actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. The accompanying information contained in this Report, identifies important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.
The volume data included in this Report has been obtained from our records. Except for volume data for Fresh Del Monte, the market share, volume and consumption data contained in this Report have been compiled by us based upon data and other information obtained from third-party sources, primarily from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (the “FAO”), and from our surveys of customers and other company-compiled data. Except as otherwise indicated, volume data contained in this Report is shown in millions of 40-pound equivalent boxes.
Business
History and Development of Fresh Del Monte
Our legal name is Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., and our commercial name is Del Monte Fresh Produce. We are an exempted holding company, incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on August 29, 1996. At December 31, 2010, the close of our most recent fiscal year, members of the Abu-Ghazaleh family directly owned 35.3% of our outstanding Ordinary Shares.
Our principal executive office is located at Walker House, 87 Mary Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, KY1-9002, Cayman Islands. The address of our U.S. executive office is located at Del Monte Fresh Produce Company, 241 Sevilla Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida 33134. Our telephone number at our U.S. executive office is (305) 520-8400. Our Internet address is http://www.freshdelmonte.com. The electronic version of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, along with other information about us, our operations and our results and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) can be found on our Web site. Information on our Web site is not a part of this Report on Form 10-K.
Our global business, conducted through subsidiaries, is primarily the worldwide sourcing, transportation and marketing of fresh and fresh-cut produce together with prepared food products in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. We source our fresh produce products (bananas, pineapples, melons, tomatoes, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, citrus, avocados, blueberries and kiwi) primarily from Central and South America, Africa, the Philippines, North America and Europe. We source our prepared food products primarily from Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Our products are sourced from company-owned operations, through joint venture arrangements and through supply contracts with independent producers. We distribute our products in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East
, Africa and South America.
On June 6, 2008, we acquired all of the shares of Desarollo Agroindustrial de Frutales, S.A., a producer of high-quality bananas in Costa Rica; all of the shares of Frutas de Exportacion, S.A., a major producer of gold pineapples in Costa Rica; and all of the shares of an affiliated sales and marketing company, collectively known as “Caribana”. The purchase price for Caribana was $405.9 million plus $2.9 million for acquisition-related expenses, financed with $88.5 million in cash on hand and drawings under our then-existing syndicated revolving credit facility. As a result of this acquisition, our land holdings in Costa Rica increased by approximately 13,000 hectares of quality farm land producing approximately 13 million boxes of bananas and 11 million boxes of gold pineapples annually. We also acquired st
ate-of-the-art packing facilities, as well as modern farming equipment. Caribana’s extensive production area substantially increased our presence in the banana market and further strengthened our number one position in the gold pineapple market. The close proximity of Caribana’s production and packing operations to our existing farms has provided significant operating efficiencies and synergies. This transaction has enabled us to continue to capitalize on the growing global demand for fresh produce and to expand our reach into existing and new markets.
On June 27, 2008, we acquired certain operating assets, excluding land, of Melones de Costa Rica, S.A. (“MCR”). MCR is a 50%-owned unconsolidated subsidiary that produced melons for us in Costa Rica. MCR continues to own the land that is leased to us on a long-term basis. The purchase price was $8.0 million. During the third quarter of 2008, we also acquired two additional melon operations in Guatemala. The assets acquired comprised principally farming equipment, packing sheds and materials and supplies inventory. The purchase price was $13.9 million.
Our capital expenditures totaled $70.8 million in 2010, consisting of approximately $31.0 million, principally for expansion of production facilities in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Brazil combined with improvements to our port facilities in North America and distribution facilities in Saudi Arabia related to the banana segment. We also spent approximately $33.1 million principally for expansion of production facilities in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile and the Philippines and fresh-cut facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom related to the other fresh produce segment and $6.7 million principally for expansion of production facilities in Kenya, Greece and Jordan related to the prepared food segment. Our capital expenditures totaled $84.5 million in 2009, consisting of approximately $51.4 million primarily for distribution ce
nters in Saudi Arabia and for expansion of production facilities in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Brazil and the Philippines related to the banana segment, $27.8 million principally for expansion of our pineapple operations in Costa Rica and the Philippines, expansion of non-tropical fruit operations in Chile and expansion of fresh-cut fruit facilities in North America and the United Kingdom related to the other fresh produce segment and $5.3 million for expansion of production facilities in Jordan and Kenya related to the prepared food segment. Our capital expenditures totaled $101.5 million in 2008, consisting of $59.4 million principally for distribution centers in Saudi Arabia and South Korea and for expansion of production facilities in the Philippines, Guatemala and Brazil related to the banana segment, $23.1 million principally for expansion of production facilities in Costa Rica, the Philippines and Chile related to the other fresh produce segment and $19.0 million principally for production facilities in J
ordan and Kenya related to the prepared food segment. The principal capital expenditures planned for 2011 consist primarily of the expansion of production facilities in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Chile, Kenya, Jordan and Greece and for our distribution and fresh-cut facilities in Saudi Arabia, North America and the United Kingdom.
1
Business Overview
We are one of the world’s leading vertically integrated producers, marketers and distributors of high-quality fresh and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, as well as a leading producer and distributor of prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, beverages and snacks in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. We market our products worldwide under the DEL MONTE® brand, a symbol of product innovation, quality, freshness and reliability since 1892. Our global sourcing and logistics network allows us to provide regular delivery of consistently high-quality fresh produce, juices, beverages, processed fruit and vegetables and value-added services to our customers.