A failed attempt to streamline Rotterdam-based import company Citronas following its integration into Dutch fresh produce company Fruitmasters is said to have contributed to last week's shock departure of Fruitmasters general director Rian Verwoert.
According to sources close to the company, Fruitmasters' decision to dismiss more than 20 members of staff at Citronas was recently overturned by a Dutch court, throwing into disarray plans for a major reorganisation of the importer and other subsidiaries of Citronas Holding, namely Münster Fruit Logistics, Indigo Fruit and Kardol.
'A total of 23 members of Citronas' staff were fired, but they took legal action and Fruitmasters has been forced to re-hire them,' an industry source told Eurofruit. 'This has been a major blow for Fruitmasters.'
Fruitmasters had intended to draw a line under what have been years of upheaval at Citronas, primarily through scaling back the business and merging it fully into its own operations.
The two companies had already established a working partnership as far back as 2003, when Fruitmasters purchased the importer under Mr Verwoert's leadership, but in April 2008 the departure of several of Citronas' key account members precipitated further changes.
Those executives went on to form Vevici Fruit, which was subsequently acquired by Total Produce and now trades as Total Produce BV, while Fruitmasters set about rationalising the remaining commercial entity.
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