Vanguard International Group

What Vanguard International Group does

Vanguard International Group (legal entity: Vanguard Group International, recently restructured in 2024 into Grupo Vanguard Internacional) is a privately held, vertically integrated fresh-produce company founded in 1991 and headquartered in Issaquah, Washington, with its principal production base in Ica, Peru. The company plants, harvests, packs, exports, and delivers fresh fruit — primarily Peruvian seedless table grapes (eight patented proprietary varieties including Ivory, Sweet Globe, Sweet Celebration, Autumncrisp, Jack's Salute, Sweet Favors, Allison, and Adora Seedless), Peruvian blueberries (Apex, MegaEarly, MegaCrisp, MegaGem varieties grown on 550 hectares in Pisco with 900 additional hectares secured), and imported citrus (mandarins and oranges from Egypt, Israel, Morocco, South Africa, and South America) — to retail and wholesale customers globally. Production infrastructure centers on a 45,000 m² packing house with 26 production lines capable of producing up to 100,000 commercial export boxes per day, backed by advanced cold-chain and pre-cool storage, AWS-standard water management, and a portfolio of food-safety and sustainability certifications (GLOBALG.A.P., BRC, PRIMUS GFS, Rainforest Alliance, BASC, SMETA). The company employs 51–100 permanent staff and engages 10,000+ seasonal workers during peak grape season in Ica.

Commercial operations are organized into two channels: Vanguard Direct, which serves US and Canada retailers through a sales office in Bakersfield, California and warehousing partners (Mission Produce, Anthony Vineyards, Slingshot Cold Storage, Columbine Vineyards, Pacific International); and Vanguard International, which serves clients across 6 continents through regional sales offices in Shanghai, Taipei, Tangerang, Santiago, and Stellenbosch. Products are sold under the Vanguard Fresh master brand plus sub-brands (ICALOV for blueberries; Golden Horse, Majestic Jaguar, Red Tiger, Shine Jade for international markets). The revenue model is B2B wholesale on a transaction-fee basis with quote-based pricing to retail and distributor customers; no consumer-facing subscription or per-unit retail pricing is disclosed. The company is led by CEO Manuel Yzaga, with a C-suite covering commercial (Dirk Winkelmann), operations (Carlos Castro), human talent (Alfonso Cachay), and finance (Silvia Merino).

Name

Vanguard International Group

Legal name

Vanguard Group International

Website

https://vanguardteam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vanguard International Group is a privately held, vertically integrated grower-packer-exporter of fresh fruit, primarily Peruvian seedless table grapes, blueberries, and citrus, selling B2B to major retailers in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America through its Vanguard Direct and Vanguard International channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Issaquah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fresh Produce Export and Sales: Plant, harvest, pack, export and deliver fresh produce (table grapes, blueberries, citrus, cherries, and other fruits) to global customers. Products available under Vanguard Fresh brand and other proprietary brands. Revenue generated through wholesale B2B sales to retailers and distributors worldwide.
2. North America Distribution (Vanguard Direct): Direct supply of fresh produce to homes across US and Canada, including own Peruvian production and imported products from Chile, South Africa, and other origins.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vanguard International Group is a vertically integrated agribusiness that plants, harvests, packs, exports, and delivers fresh fruits—primarily Peruvian seedless table grapes, blueberries, citrus, and cherries—to global wholesale and retail customers. Products are sold under the Vanguard Fresh brand and sub-brands (Vanguard International, Vanguard Direct, ICALOV, Golden Horse, Majestic Jaguar, Red Tiger, Shine Jade) to retailers, importers, and distributors across six continents.

Product overview

Vanguard Group International is a vertically integrated agribusiness providing fresh produce from field to table. The company operates through three main business units: Vanguard Fresh (primary brand for worldwide distribution), Vanguard International (serving Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America), and Vanguard Direct (serving US and Canada). Core products include Peruvian seedless table grapes with 8 proprietary patented varieties (Ivory, Sweet Globe, Sweet Celebration, Autumncrisp, Jack's Salute, Sweet Favors, Allison, Adora Seedless), premium blueberries under the ICALOV brand, and imported citrus (mandarins and oranges). Products are available across 7 countries with offices, serving retail customers from strategic locations near growing regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VANGUARD FRESH: Primary brand under which products are available worldwide
• GOLDEN HORSE
• MAJESTIC JAGUAR
• RED TIGER
• SHINE JADE
• ICALOV

Products and services

• Peruvian Seedless Table Grapes
• Peruvian Blueberries
• Imported Citrus (Mandarins and Oranges)
• ICALOV Premium Blueberries Brand

Quantifiable outcome

• 60-70% jumbo-sized blueberries (18mm+)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HÖSEGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Strategic partnership with Peruvian outdoor apparel brand committed to social and environmental responsibility. First initiative: provision of 200 jackets to children in vulnerable communities. HÖSEG designed new corporate shirts for Vanguard Group International. Partnership represents shared values in sustainability and social consciousness.
• Continental FreshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance through 'Water for All' initiative to connect with table grape consumers in the United States. Vanguard Fresh packaging carries 'Water for All' seal on Peruvian table grapes sold in major US supermarkets.
• BLUE MissionminorOthersNon-profit organization working to provide decent life for low-income families in Latin America through water and sanitation projects. Receives percentage of proceeds from Water for All product sales.
• Water4AllminorOthersInternational water conservation initiative. Vanguard Group International uses Water4All seal on packaging for Water for All initiative products.
• Kaross FoundationminorOthersEducation program strengthening local communities in South Africa through sustainable initiatives supporting children at every stage of learning. Vanguard Group International provides annual contributions since 2023.
• Mission ProducecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWarehouse and distribution partner for Vanguard Direct products in US market. Locations in Logan Township, NJ (table grapes) and Bakersfield, CA (blueberries through ICALOV).
• Anthony VineyardscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWarehouse partner in Bakersfield, CA for US distribution of Vanguard Direct table grapes and packaging options.
• Slingshot Cold StoragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS shipping location for ICALOV blueberries in Vineland, NJ.
• Columbine VineyardscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS shipping location for ICALOV blueberries in Delano, CA.
• Pacific InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS shipping location for ICALOV blueberries in Long Beach, CA.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wish Farms: US-based grower and marketer of strawberries, blueberries, and other berries. Comparable because it operates proprietary variety programs and direct retail supply similar to Vanguard's blueberry business.
• Sun-Maid Growers of California: Grower-owned cooperative and leading global marketer of table grapes and raisins. Comparable because it sources from multiple growing regions and sells branded fresh grapes into US and international retail channels.
• Hortifrut: Vertically integrated Chilean-based blueberry and berry producer with global operations. Comparable because of similar vertically integrated, multi-region berry strategy and direct retail relationships across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
• Naturipe Farms: Grower-owned marketer of fresh berries with proprietary varieties and global supply. Comparable because it sells premium-branded blueberries and other berries to major retailers, similar to ICALOV.
• Camposol: Peruvian vertically integrated agro-exporter of blueberries, avocados, grapes, and other produce. Comparable because it shares Vanguard's Peruvian production base and global B2B fresh produce export model.
• The Wonderful Company: Privately held, vertically integrated grower-packer-marketer of table grapes (Wonderful Halos mandarins, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios). Comparable because it controls its own genetics, packing, and global distribution for grapes and citrus.
• Driscoll's: Vertically integrated global marketer of berries with proprietary genetics and grower network. Comparable because it controls variety development, supply, and branded distribution to retailers worldwide, similar to Vanguard's blueberry and grape model.

Regional players

• Mission Produce: World's largest avocado producer and distributor with vertically integrated operations. Comparable because it is both a US distribution partner for Vanguard and a similarly vertically integrated produce grower-exporter serving North American retail.

Broad incumbents

• Dole plc: Large global fresh produce company with diversified fruit and vegetable categories. Comparable as a broad incumbent in fresh produce that overlaps with Vanguard in grapes, citrus, and berries but operates at far larger scale and across many more categories.
• Fresh Del Monte Produce: Global producer, distributor, and marketer of fresh fruits and vegetables. Comparable as a broad incumbent with vertically integrated production and global retail distribution that overlaps Vanguard's grapes, citrus, and berries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vanguard-fresh
• Xx.com/vanguardfresh

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vanguard International Group