Westfalia Fruit appoints avocado industry expert Tommy Padilla as President, North America
Global avocado industry leader Westfalia Fruit is appointing Tommy Padilla as President, North America. He joined the business on June 1.
One of the most respected figures in the global avocado trade, Padilla brings more than two decades in the global food industry, the majority of it dedicated to the category, along with a track record of building international sales, shaping export strategy, and developing high-performing commercial teams.
He arrives at a pivotal moment for Westfalia Fruit as the company accelerates its growth across North America.
"Tommy's extensive knowledge of the avocado and his proven ability to foster growth across international markets make him a tremendous asset to the team. His appointment is a clear signal of our commitment to the North American market and our ambition to lead the global avocado category," said Chris Bush, Group CEO at Westfalia Fruit.
An avocado expert joins Westfalia Fruit
Padilla began his career in the food industry in the spice sector before moving into fresh produce with Mission Produce, where for more than a decade, he helped build and grow the company's international avocado export business. During that time, he developed the commercial team, expanded sales channels across multiple foreign markets, and was instrumental in the company's early push into Europe.
After 12 years at Mission Produce, he joined Calavo in 2022 to grow its international avocado business, before moving to Del Monte in 2024 as Vice President of Avocado, the role he held immediately before joining Westfalia Fruit.
Padilla has also played a significant role in opening up South American growing regions to additional exporting countries. His firsthand knowledge of avocado origins around the world and how each one performs throughout the season positions him to deliver even greater consistency, quality, and choice for Westfalia Fruit's retail and foodservice customers.
"Westfalia Fruit's diversity of origin, depth of expertise and clear sense of purpose are second to none in this industry. I am excited to join a team with the ambition to be the world's leading avocado company, and to help our customers across North America win with avocados," said Padilla.
The appointment supports Westfalia Fruit's strategy to become the world's leading avocado company, grounded in its purpose to do good with every avocado. With one of the most diversified country-of-origin portfolios in the industry, Westfalia Fruit is uniquely positioned to provide customers with year-round supply, reliable quality, and reduced market volatility.
*All images courtesy of Westfalia Fruit.
The second edition of the Global Avocado Summit will be held on November 11, 2026, at the Monticello Casino Events Center in Santiago, Chile. Organized by Paltas de Chile and Yentzen Group, the meeting seeks to bring together the main players in a growing industry
The event has established itself as a key space for addressing commercial and sustainability issues in the industry, bringing together producers, exporters, buyers, certifiers, and innovators to analyze the sector’s challenges and opportunities.
For more info, contact events@yentzengroup.com
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