Mission Produce has its eyes set on avocado growth, with shares closing up on the day after its initial public offering on the Nasdaq Thursday.
Avocados have become both a superfood staple and a millennial classic. According to the Hass Avocado Board, the U.S. Hass avocado industry had a total market value of $6.5 billion in 2019. That number is expected to hit more than $8 billion in 2023.
Mission Produce has seen continued consumption growth within the U.S., but its future plans aren't limited to the domestic market. Bryan Giles, chief financial officer of Mission Produce, told Cheddar that potential investors appeared interested when the company spoke about "where this avocado revolution is tracking towards."
"We have very aggressive plans in Europe and Asia to grow this category globally," Giles said. "In many cases, these markets are decades behind where the U.S. is at, and they're growing at a fast rate today. And, we really see opportunities for consumption growth going forward."
Considered an essential business, operations have continued during the coronavirus. Giles said Mission Produce was proactive at the beginning of the pandemic with new entry protocols and social distancing and has not had to shut down any of its facilities.
"Our retail customer base has been very strong and business has picked up since COVID," Giles said. "While food services is off a little bit, it's a small part of our business and it has rebounded strongly over the last few months."
Mission Produce priced its IPO at $12 per share. The stock closed at $13.80 on Thursday afternoon.
Computer chipmaker Nvidia is poised to release a quarterly earnings report that is expected to either deepen a recent downturn in the stock market or prompt an ebullient sigh of relief among investors increasingly worried the world’s most valuable company is perched upon an artificial intelligence bubble about to burst.
Emera CEO Scott Balfour discusses soaring energy demand, AI-driven grid challenges, clean-power investments, and how the company is building a resilient future.
JB Mackenzie discusses Robinhood’s new entertainment prediction markets, letting users engage with pop culture, award shows, and more through low-stakes bets.
Rhett Power shares his startup journey, lessons from his early years and insights from his book on overcoming negative self-talk to lead with confidence.
Despite inflation, Americans aren’t giving up the gym. Crunch Fitness CEO Jim Rowley discusses strong growth, value-driven expansion and what the future holds.
Home prices far outpacing incomes, low inventory, and higher living costs are reshaping the market. WSJ’s Veronica Dagher breaks down the challenges ahead.
As commercial options tighten, more travelers are turning to private aviation. Wheels Up CEO George Mattson breaks down capacity and demand challenges.
Layoffs, hiring slowdowns, and shifting skill demands dominate this year’s job talk. LinkedIn’s Kory Kantenga explains what workers should watch for next.
