Westfalia Fruit appoints Tommy Padilla as president for North America

GLOBAL – Westfalia Fruit has appointed Tommy Padilla as President for North America, effective June 1, bringing more than two decades of experience in the global food industry to accelerate the company’s growth across the region.

Padilla brings a track record of building international sales, shaping export strategy, and developing high-performing commercial teams, with most of his career dedicated to avocados.

He arrives at a pivotal moment for Westfalia Fruit as the company accelerates its growth across North America. His professional background includes leadership roles at major firms, including Mission Produce, Calavo, and Del Monte, where he specialized in expanding global market reach.

Padilla began his career in the food industry in the spice sector before moving into fresh produce at Mission Produce, where he helped build and grow the company’s international avocado export business for more than a decade.

During that time, he developed the commercial team, expanded sales channels across multiple international markets, and was instrumental in the company’s early push into Europe.

After 12 years at Mission Produce, he joined Calavo in 2022 to grow its international avocado business, before moving to Del Monte in 2024 as vice president of avocado.

Furthermore, Padilla has played a significant role in expanding South American avocado production for multiple export markets. His firsthand knowledge of avocado origins worldwide positions him to deliver even greater consistency, quality, and choice for retail and foodservice customers.

Therefore, this global expertise in sourcing and supply chain management will enhance Westfalia’s ability to serve North American clients.

“Tommy’s extensive knowledge of the avocado and his proven ability to foster growth across international markets make him a tremendous asset to the team,” said Chris Bush, group CEO at Westfalia Fruit. “His appointment is a clear signal of our commitment to the North American market and our ambition to lead the global avocado category.”

“The company’s diversity of origin, depth of expertise and clear sense of purpose are second to none in this industry,” said Padilla. “I am excited to join a team with the ambition to be the world’s leading avocado company, and to help our customers across North America win with avocados.”

In the end, this strategic hire reflects Westfalia Fruit’s commitment to harnessing specialized industry talent to drive commercial success and secure a leadership position in the North American market.

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