Chiquita
Chiquita's logo | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture |
| Predecessor | United Brands |
| Founded | August 1984 (as Chiquita Brands International) |
| Headquarters | Étoy, Switzerland |
Key people | Carlos López Flores (president) |
| Products | Produce (primarily bananas) |
| Owner | Cutrale (50%) Safra (50%) |
Number of employees | ~20,000 |
| Website | chiquitabrands.com |
Chiquita Brands International S.à.r.l. (/tʃɪˈkiːtə/), formerly known as United Fruit Co., is a Swiss company producing and distributing bananas and other produce. The company operates under subsidiary brand names, including the flagship Chiquita brand and Fresh Express salads. Chiquita is the leading distributor of bananas in the United States.
Chiquita is the successor to the United Fruit Company. It was formerly controlled by American businessman Carl Lindner Jr., whose majority ownership of the company ended when Chiquita Brands International exited a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 19 March 2002. In 2003, the company acquired the German produce distribution company, Atlanta AG. Fresh Express salads was purchased from Performance Food Group in 2005. Chiquita's former headquarters were located in Charlotte, North Carolina.