Dive Summary:
- Dole's current contract, which makes the company the largest tenant at Port of Wilmington in Delaware, will expire in two-and-a-half years, and the company is evaluating alternatives, such as a move to the Port of Paulsboro in New Jersey.
- Delaware's port could suffer if Dole, which is responsible for 30% of its cargo tonnage, were to move, and other fruit companies, including Chiquita and Pacific Seaways could potentially follow suit and exit the port as well.
- Dole future in Delaware may swing on concessions from a warehousing union there, which could be pushed to allow pay cuts and work rule changes.
From the article:
... Dole moved to the port from Baltimore in 1982, and port officials say the firm has enjoyed an advantage of being able to reach a third of the mainland U.S. population within an eight-hour drive.
But in recent years, the port has struggled with aging cranes and warehouses, as well as additional and more aggressive competition along the Delaware River. ...