Linda De Nadai aims to unite Unifrutti as new MD

Unifruttti Group, the multinational Italian fruit supplier with its headquarters in Cyprus, has announced that Linda De Nadai has taken over from Gianluca Defendini as its new managing director for Europe and Africa.

De Nadai is currently CEO of Unifrutti South Africa, a position she has held since 2015, and will continue to carry out that role alongside her new responsibilities.

Indeed, she will apparently have the task of integrating the group’s operations across the two hemispheres into one unified platform.

“I am delighted and honoured to continue my career at Unifrutti with the role of CEO Europe and Africa and I am grateful to the Board of Directors for their trust,” she commented.

“I am convinced of Unifrutti’s potential in these two strategic regions and committed to work towards sustainable growth in these markets together with our local teams and in cooperation with the other Unifrutti regions.”

She added: “The international network and bond that unites our Group, the production windows in the two hemispheres, and the solid relationships along the entire value chain put us in a privileged position to ensure availability of fresh and quality fruit on the tables of consumers in these markets 365 days per year.”

In recent years, Unifrutti has invested to expand production in its home market of Italy – for example in Acquaviva, Puglia, and near Valdaso in the Marche region, where the group focuses on producing distinctive crops for Italian and European consumers.

In 2020, it acquired Oranfrizer, a leading company in the production of Sicilian blood oranges, other citrus fruits and juices, and also the Spanish vegetable company Dimifruit.

De Nadai’s appointment and the consolidation of Unifrutti’s European and African operations under her direction represent the latest step in an international expansion strategy.

That process is backed by Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company ADQ, which has a majority stake in the group.