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For more than 150 years we have been riding the waves of the dynamic fresh produce industry. With a rich history nurtured through grower alliances, hard work and visionary thinking, our entrepreneurial culture has allowed us to grow our company's business from supplying North American retailers with just over 10 million packages in 1995 to more than 30 million packages at the turn of the millennium. It all began with the original four Oppenheimer brothers back in 1858 … |
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1858
Four Oppenheimer brothers follow the gold rush to British Columbia and found Oppenheimer Bros. & Co. in Victoria, to provide food and supplies to thousands of fortune seekers. A year later, they open a second store in Yale, along the Cariboo trail, and they open another branch in Barkerville in 1862. |
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1887
The Oppenheimer brothers move their firm to Vancouver, B.C., effectively opening the city's first wholesale provisions warehouse. |
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1956
Through our alliance with New Zealand apple growers, we bring the first Granny Smith apples to North America from New Zealand. We have since introduced other New Zealand favorites, such as Royal Gala, Braeburn, Pacific Rose™, Southern Rose™, and most recently ENZA Jazz™ apples. |
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Late 1960s
Oppenheimer establishes one of the first large-scale Chilean shipping programs to import grapes and stone fruit. We also imported the first kiwifruit, apples and pears from New Zealand to North America. |
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1963
We introduce Canadians to New Zealand kiwifruit, formerly known as "Chinese gooseberries." |
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1985
Oppenheimer opens an office in Seattle, Washington, establishing the U.S. business under the name David Oppenheimer & Co. Seattle is the first of the eight strategically located offices currently in the U.S. |
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1992
David Oppenheimer Transport Inc. (DOT) begins East Coast operations in Wilmington, Delaware. DOT has since expanded to include transportation services on the West Coast and in Western Canada.
At this time all three companies -- David Oppenheimer & Associates, the Canadian company; David Oppenheimer & Co., the U.S. company; and DOT -- are collectively known as The David Oppenheimer Group. |
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1996
With the direction of Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Doug Grant, we unveil a technologically advanced and self-designed management information system, one of the most sophisticated in the produce industry. |
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2000
President, Chairman and CEO John Anderson serves as chairman of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association and is recognized as The Packer's "Canadian Produce Man of the Year."
With our partner ZESPRI International Ltd., we give North Americans their first taste of gold kiwifruit.
We launch our first corporate Web site, www.oppyproduce.com. |
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2001
Canada's National Post recognizes The Oppenheimer Group as one of the country's "50 Best Managed Companies," a designation awarded consecutively through 2010. In 2008 ― based on performance through 2007 ― Oppenheimer becomes a member of the 50 Best Managed “Platinum Club,” an honor reserved for companies chosen as best managed for six or more back-to-back years.
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We complete our 52-week greenhouse tomato category in signing a marketing agreement with Houweling’s Hot House.
We implement food security protocols that set industry-wide standards. |
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2002
We introduce a new corporate logo and shorten our company name to "The Oppenheimer Group."
President, Chairman and CEO John Anderson is named "Entrepreneur of the Year" by Ernst and Young for Canada's Pacific Region.
As an organization we ship a total of 35 million packages of fresh produce. |
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2003
We implement our first Oppenheimer-branded packaging.
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We introduce ENZA Jazz™ apples to North America. |
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We sign a marketing agreement with Divemex to complete our 52-week supply of greenhouse sweet bell peppers. |
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Ocean Spray picks Oppenheimer to market fresh cranberries in North America. |
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2004
 We announce our new business philosophy to the world through a refreshed brand promise, "expect the world from us." Full Story
The Oppenheimer Group receives The Produce News' Fresh Health Award at the Canadian Produce Marketing Association convention in Calgary.
Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Doug Grant is named The Packer's Canadian Produce Man of the Year. |
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2006
Exhibiting leadership in technology innovation, Oppenheimer participates in the produce industries first Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Reduced Space Symbology (RSS) trials.
We launched a new premium organic greenhouse vegetable line with Origin Organic Farms of Delta, B.C. Full Story
And We partner with Dulcinea Farms, LLC of Ladera Ranch, CA to launch Rosso Bruno™, premium vine fresh black tomatoes. Full Story
Sales Representative Rick Wallis is named The Packer’s Produce Man of the Year. |
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2007
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With industry partner Earthcycle, we earn a PMA Impact Award for innovation in sustainable packaging. Earthcycle trays are 100% home compostable. Full Story |
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 2008
On July 12, 2008, Vancouver’s Mayor Sam Sullivan proclaimed "David Oppenheimer Day" in the city of Vancouver, to honor the innovative founding father who built much of the city’s infrastructure. At a ceremony in Stanley Park, Mayor Oppenheimer’s life was remembered during speeches by city officials, local historians, members of his family, and Oppenheimer CEO John Anderson.
Our ties to the past keep us growing to the future. Oppenheimer celebrates 150 years of delivering the world.
Canada's National Post awards Oppenheimer with platinum status as one of Canada’s "Best Managed Companies." |
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