German fresh produce company Kölla says it is targeting new growth in international markets with the appointment of Jose Claure as its purchasing and sales manager for overseas.

Based at the group’s Düsseldorf office, Claure brings with him several years’ experience of working in the global fresh produce market.

Having graduated in 2007 with a degree in agribusiness management from the Zamorano University in Honduras, Claure came to Germany in 2008 and worked for two years sourcing produce from Latin America import company Pilz Schindler in Hamburg.

He subsequently spent more than six years at another Hamburg-based importer, Trofi, ultimately becoming responsible for the company’s overseas exotics and grape procurement.

“We are happy to have found [in] Jose Claure a very experienced colleague,“ commented Kölla chief executive Georg Hoffmann. “With his excellent knowledge of produce and producers, he will be able to support the strategic development and long-term, sustainable success of the Kölla Group.”

Claure himself said he was looking forward to the new role. “I have followed with great interest the activities of Kölla. I am looking forward to my new tasks, especially to develop further the availabilities of high-quality fruit from [the] Southern Hemisphere.”

Kölla has offices in Bern, Kaarst, Munich, Valencia, Perpignan and Bolzano.