Industry veteran who helped establish Rotterdam citrus auction and co-founded Origin Fruit Direct passes away
Fruit trade legend Dick Aaldijk has died at the age of 86, after a career spanning more than 50 years in the fresh produce business.
The news was confirmed by his son Randolf Aaldijk in the Netherlands today (5 May).
Aaldijk started his long career in fruit import in the 1960s at the Internationale Fruitmaatschappij, one of the importers who founded the citrus auction.
He then worked at the Rottekade, Westersingel and later in the Marconistraat, first at Interfruit and then through takeovers at Velleman & Tas and Fyffes/Total Produce.
Nine years ago he joined his son Randolf who founded Origin Fruit Direct, which specialises in grapes, citrus and, increasingly, exotic fruits.
Origin Fruit Direct came into being in 2006, driven by Aaldijk together with Afrifresh as its South African partner.
“Dick knew the fruit import sector like no other: he started his career with one of the first importers at the Rotterdam citrus auction,” the group stated.
”Thanks to that experience, and its large network in the international fruit trade, Origin Fruit Direct got off to a flying start.”
Randolf said that his father was a dealmaker and during the early years became one of the most important players in imports of Jaffa and Outspan citrus.
Sources who know him said Dick knew the fruit import sector like no other.
“Thanks to that experience, and its large network in the international fruit trade, Origin Fruit Direct got off to a flying start. Two decades later, it is a genuine group, with branches on four continents.”
After his retirement Dick still kept an eye on the business. Fruit industry sources said he was truly a great character in the fresh produce trade and will be missed.
