Business Segment Data

12 Months Ended

Dec. 30, 2011

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Business Segment Data

Business Segment Data

We are principally engaged in one major line of business, the production, distribution and marketing of bananas, other fresh produce and prepared food. Our products are sold in markets throughout the world, with our major producing operations located in North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Our operations are aggregated into business segments on the basis of our products: bananas, other fresh produce and prepared food. Other fresh produce includes pineapples, melons, non-tropical fruit (including grapes, apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, avocados, citrus and kiwis), fresh-cut products, other fruit and vegetables, a third-party ocean freight business, a plastic product and box manufacturing business and a grain business. During the fourth quarter of 2010, we sold the grain silos and exited the grain business. Prepared food includes prepared fruit and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, poultry and meat products.

As a result of our decision to exit grain operations during 2010 and the elimination of third-party ocean freight services from Northern Europe to the Caribbean during 2009 and due to the relative size of the remaining operations, we have combined the other products and services segment with the other fresh produce segment in 2011. Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2011 presentation.

We evaluate performance based on several factors, of which net sales and gross profit by product are the primary financial measures (U.S. dollars in millions):

	Year ended
	December 30, 2011				December 31, 2010				January 1, 2010
	Net Sales		Gross Profit		Net Sales		Gross Profit		Net Sales		Gross Profit
Banana	$	1,653.1	$	88.3	$	1,620.3	$	31.4	$	1,510.9	$	108.7
Other fresh produce	1,581.6		177.9		1,572.8		195.4		1,648.1		149.9
Prepared food	355.0		53.3		359.8		45.6		337.4		52.2
Totals	$	3,589.7	$	319.5	$	3,552.9	$	272.4	$	3,496.4	$	310.8

	Year ended
Net sales by geographic region:	December 30, 2011		December 31, 2010		January 1, 2010
North America	$	1,806.8	$	1,741.3	$	1,675.9
Europe	854.8		913.8		995.2
Asia	431.5		411.1		420.2
Middle East	429.2		421.1		314.1
Other	67.4		65.6		91.0
Total net sales	$	3,589.7	$	3,552.9	$	3,496.4

22. Business Segment Data (continued)

Property, plant and equipment, net:	December 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
North America	$	73.9	$	75.3
Europe	58.7		76.7
Middle East	165.0		155.6
Africa	33.2		33.8
Asia	21.7		26.5
Central America	519.0		513.0
South America	114.5		115.0
Maritime equipment (including containers)	24.8		24.7
Corporate	12.1		12.5
Total property, plant and equipment, net	$	1,022.9	$	1,033.1

Identifiable assets:	December 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
North America	$	316.9	$	358.6
Europe	432.6		401.4
Middle East	298.4		271.4
Africa	104.0		120.2
Asia	148.4		144.4
Central America	850.0		836.7
South America	216.6		229.7
Maritime equipment (including containers)	43.0		47.2
Corporate	94.1		108.1
Total identifiable assets	$	2,504.0	$	2,517.7

The United States accounted for approximately 50%, 49% and 48% of our net sales for the years ended 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.  Our earnings are heavily dependent on operations located worldwide; however, our net sales are not dependent on any particular country other than the United States, with no other country accounting for greater than 10% of our net sales for 2011, 2010 and 2009.  These operations are a significant factor in the economies of some of the countries in which we operate and are subject to the risks that are inherent in operating in such countries, including government regulations, currency and ownership restrictions and risk of expropriation. Management reviews assets on the basis of geographic region and not by reportable segment, which more closely aligns our capital investment with demand for our products.  Costa Rica is our most significant sourcing location, representing approximately 43%, 42% and 40% of our property, plant and equipment as of December 30, 2011, December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2010, respectively.  No country other than Costa Rica accounts for greater than 10% of our property, plant and equipment.

One customer accounted for approximately 12% of net sales in 2011 and 13% of net sales in 2010 and 2009, respectively. These sales are reported in the banana and other fresh produce segments. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of our net sales. In 2011,our top 10 customers accounted for approximately 32% of net sales as compared with 34% of our net sales during 2010 and 2009. Identifiable assets by geographic area represent those assets used in the operations of each geographic area. Corporate assets consist of goodwill, building, leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures.