David Lawrence has been named CEO of Potandon Produce, one of the largest providers of fresh potatoes in North America, effective Dec. 20. He is the former CEO of Fresh Direct.
Lawrence succeeds Mel Davenport, who retired after 30-plus years of service marked by the launch of Klondike Goldust and Klondike Rose potatoes and the CarbSmart line.
Under Davenport’s leadership, Potandon strengthened its market position, continued the expansion of its Green Giant Fresh products, expanded its product offerings and fostered a culture of excellence and sustainability.
“Mel’s well-deserved retirement marks the culmination of a career,” said Jeff Sholl, founder and managing member of Potandon. “As a key member of Potandon’s senior management team, Mel has been a cornerstone of our business since its inception, and his leadership has been pivotal to the company’s position today.
“As we celebrate Mel’s contributions, we also look forward to an exciting new chapter under the leadership of David Lawrence, whose vision and expertise will guide Potandon toward continued growth and success.”
During Lawrence’s tenure at Fresh Direct, he spearheaded initiatives that enhanced customer experience, streamlined operations and drove business growth. Prior to that, he served as the president of Taylor Farms Northwest, CEO of National Pecan and president of C.M. Holtzinger Fruit Co.
“I am looking forward to joining Potandon Produce and building upon the strong foundation established by Mel and the team,” Lawrence said. “At a time when consumers are more focused on functional foods, health and nutrition than ever, I’m proud to join a company that understands these evolving needs and is committed to delivering unique varieties and such a huge consumer footprint for providing nutritious, high-quality produce to meet them.”
Potandon Produce is an ag-tech and food-tech leader, and one of the largest providers of fresh table stock potatoes in the nation. It also is a leading provider of fresh onions.
Its product line includes Minute Mashers, ONE STEP… DONE!, and classic russet, yellow, red and white potatoes. The company’s vertical integration has led to a state-of-the-art variety development program for unique potato varieties, conventional and sweet onions, and many others within the world’s top three food crops.
About Potandon Produce
Headquartered in Idaho Falls, Idaho and Dallas, Texas, Potandon partners with a network of growers to provide consumers with premium fresh produce year-round. The company holds exclusive license rights to market fresh potatoes and onions under the Green Giant Fresh brand in North America, in addition to its own brands and private-label offerings.
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