Castle & Cooke, Inc. and Dole Food Company, Inc. are privately held companies owned by David H. Murdock, who also serves as chairman and chief executive officer of both companies since 1985. Castle & Cooke and Dole Food Company (formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange), were acquired by Mr. Murdock in 2000 and 2003, respectively. The food-related businesses operate as Dole Food Company, and all other businesses operate as Castle & Cooke.
Mr. Murdock's combined companies make up one of the largest privately-held companies in America, with approximately 63,000 employees operating in more than 90 countries around the world. This website focuses on the collection of assets under the Castle & Cooke umbrella of companies.
Among Castle & Cooke's greatest assets are its plentiful land and real estate holdings, much of which can be traced back more than 150 years to when Samuel Northrup Castle and Amos Starr Cooke began their business partnership by operating a general store in Hawai'i. The spirit, vision, integrity and perseverance of these two men sparked the formation of a company that grew to global proportions over the years.
The company’s diversified businesses have operations in over 24 states and include the development and ownership of real estate, leasing of transportation equipment, manufacture of brick and building materials, oil and gas holdings, aviation services, and ownership of public warehouses. In Hawai'i the company also owns 98% of the 90,000 acre island of Lana’i and two award winning Four Seasons Hotels.