Dole Food Co. is to move its European headquarters from France to Germany, its largest market on the continent.

The Dole office will switch from Paris to Hamburg, the company has confirmed to just-food.

Johan Linden, general manager of Dole Germany, is to become president of Dole Europe. Linden replaces Jean-Christophe Juillard, who is leaving the business. Dole refused to be drawn on how the move would affect jobs more broadly.

In a statement, the company said: “Dole has decided to reorganise its fresh fruit operations. In order to better face the current difficult European banana market, Dole will concentrate its efforts towards the distribution of its Latin American fruit in Europe, for which the largest market is Germany.”