Karl Voges Landgard

Karl Voges

German fresh produce and flower supplier Landgard has appointed Karl Voges to head up the management of its fruit and vegetable business.

Voges, who is currently managing director of Lower Saxony-based herb, vegetable and flower company Gartenbauzentrale, will take up the new role on 21 January.

"We are pleased that Landgard has been able to secure the appointment of Karl Voges," commmented the group's chairman Bert Schmitz.

"He brings with him a wealth of knowledge within the fresh produce sector and cooperative marketing, and stands out for his high level of expertise, his excellent industry network and his extensive experience of working at board level," he added.

Landgard recently underlined its commitment to returning its business to profitability following a difficult couple of years.

In 2011, the company made a pre-tax loss of €61.5m, despite having seen its sales increase by almost 80 per cent since 2006 following a major expansion of its fresh produce import operation in particular.

Reporting on the group's financial performance for the last financial year at its annual general meeting in October, new directors Gerold Kaltenbach and Jürgen Rosar said Landgard had been able to reduce the shortfall in its bottom line to just a single-digit figure.