CHRW acquires Timco Worldwide

Third-party logistics services and produce sourcing services provider and freight transportation broker C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) announced this week that its subsidiary C.H. Robinson Company has acquired Timco Worldwide, a Davis, Calif.-based provider and marketer of quality produce, specifically melons.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

CHR officials said that Timco is focused on providing retail and club store customers with a year-round supply of regular and mini sized watermelons, as well as providing cantaloupes, honeydews, and mixed melons on a seasonal basis. They added that Timco has operations in ten states and five countries, including Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama and will augment CHR’s various melon category programs. Timco, said CHR, also offers growers unique and proprietary technology in advanced planning, sorting, and distribution services.

“Timco Worldwide is a perfect addition to our product and supply strategy that we have been developing over the last 6 years, starting with the acquisition of FoodSource in 2005,” said Jim Lemke, senior vice president at C.H. Robinson, in an interview. For the past several years, we have been engaged in projects which help to consolidate and improve supply chains that are typically difficult for buyers to purchase consistently and effectively.  The melon category fits this strategy nicely.” 

Lemke also noted that C.H. Robinson and Timco have had a long-standing relationship, explaining that Timco specializes in conventional and organic, seedless and mini melons with its core products matching C.H. Robinson’s strategy perfectly.

What’s more, he said this allows C.H. Robinson to continue to meet the needs of its customers and grow its business for its shareholders and the company is excited about having Timco Worldwide be a part of that growth.

When asked what the primary benefits of this deal are for C.H. Robinson customers, Lemke said that with a more robust grower network, year-round availability, and leading edge grower planning and sorting technology, customers will receive a strong portfolio of products and services in this category. 

“Through Timco and C.H. Robinson’s seed programs, customers will see and participate in innovative genetics and seed trial tests, which ultimately will give buyers more options and confidence in the category,” he said. “Growers will see better yields and a broad array of services to help improve the overall planning, production and distribution processes.  In addition, customers should expect to see improved growth in their melon business because of the flexible and credible logistics options and unique marketing programs C.H. Robinson can offer.”

C.H. Robinson officials declined to disclose information regarding how many employees Timco has or revenue figures.