Calavo Growers Appoints former Finance Chief As new Ceo 

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US nutrient institution Calavo Growers has appointed its erstwhile finance chief B. John Lindeman as its caller CEO. 

Lindeman will succeed Lee Cole, who will discontinue arsenic president and CEO connected 8 December. 

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Founded successful 1924, the company processes and distributes avocados, tomatoes and papayas, on with guacamole under nan Calavo brand.  

Kathleen Holmgren, chair of the board of directors at Calavo, said: “On behalf of nan Board and nan full Calavo family, I want to definitive our heavy gratitude to Lee for his decades of outstanding activity and his galore contributions that helped Calavo go a trusted sanction successful caller and prepared foods.

“He led nan institution done aggregate marketplace cycles, strengthening our operational instauration and expanding our world reach. Lee’s disciplined attack and attraction connected capacity person group a precocious modular for our industry.”

Lindeman was most recently CEO of Hydrofarm Holdings Group, a shaper and supplier of branded hydroponics instrumentality and supplies for controlled-environment agriculture.  

After almost 5 years arsenic Calavo CFO, he joined Hydrofarm in 2020 as finance main and became CEO and a committee head successful January this year.  

Holmgren, who was elected as nan chair past month, added: “We’re very pleased to invited John backmost to nan executive team. He knows this institution good from his clip arsenic CFO and arsenic a current board member. John brings heavy manufacture knowledge and strategical penetration arsenic good as significant experience in mergers and acquisitions that will service Calavo good successful advancing our strategical priorities.”

Lindeman added: “With nan dedication and expertise that specify Calavo’s culture, we are good positioned to deepen partnerships, thrust growth, and create sustainable worth for our shareholders.” 

Alongside nan appointment, Calavo also provided an update on nan takeover liking it received successful June from an undisclosed party.  

The institution said it is “evaluating each strategical alternatives”.  

“The reappraisal process remains ongoing and whitethorn aliases whitethorn not consequence successful a transaction. Calavo does not intend to remark further unless a circumstantial development warrants disclosure,” it added. 

For nan fiscal 3rd 4th ended 31 July 2025, Calavo reported nett income of $178.8m, down 0.4% twelvemonth connected year.  

Fresh conception income were $155.9m, a 5% decline, while prepared conception income roseate 40% to $22.9m.  

Operating income fell 7.5% to $8.6m. Net income was $4.7m, compared pinch a nonaccomplishment of $762,000 a twelvemonth earlier. 

For nan 9 months ended 31 July, nett income were $523.7m, up 6.5% connected nan prior-year period.  

Fresh conception income accrued 6% to $470.3m and prepared conception income roseate 10% to $53.5m.  

Operating income climbed 55.6% to $21.3m, while nett income improved to $16.1m from a nonaccomplishment of $920,000 in nan comparable play of 2024.