Interviews
John Anderson has helped transform Oppy from a modest $7 million company to a $1.4 billion global powerhouse, led pivotal industry mergers and balances his corporate success with a passion for aviation.
by EDWARD VERNON
Portrait photography by Derek Hader Orchard photography by Andrea Johnson
A key figure navigating the dynamic landscape of the fresh produce industry is John Anderson, who serves as chair, chief executive officer and managing partner of The Oppenheimer Group (also known as Oppy), a grower, distributor and market - er of fresh fruit and vegetables that is headquartered in his hometown of Vancouver, Canada. Over the years the organization has become one of the leading players in the North American produce market. Beginning in October 2023, Anderson will also be the chair of the International Fresh Produce Association. When he joined Oppy in 1975, starting in the trenches as a warehouseman, the company’s operations were modest, with an annual turnover of about $7 million. Fast forward to today, its sales have skyrocketed to $1.4 billion — a feat that came largely under Anderson’s stewardship, with the executive having led the company since 1993 when he became its president and CEO. By then he had also opened offices in the United States and introduced North America to fruit from Chile and New Zealand. Today the company has 20 offices worldwide. Under Anderson’s tenure, a majority stake in Oppy was acquired by Total Produce, the Ireland-based produce company which later acquired Dole Food Company Inc.
Vision Magazine 47
October/November 2023
Powered by FlippingBook