DOLE COMPLEX TO BREAK GROUND.

Byline: Sonia Giordani Daily News Staff Writer

Dole Food Co. - the world's largest producer and distributor of pineapple and one of the largest growers and packagers of fresh fruits and vegetables - will break ground next month on its new headquarters facility in Westlake Village.

On the drawing board for more than four years, plans to transfer the company's operations from leased office buildings in the city to a headquarters of its own have been delayed and revised as Dole Food underwent a series of internal reorganizations and downsizing.

But the company, which generates more than $225 million in annual sales, has set the groundbreaking ceremony on its new 160,000 square-foot facility for Jan. 13 and plans to move into the new building by late spring 1999.

``The major thrust of this project is to consolidate everything in our operations under one roof,'' said Arnold Savrann, principal project designer.

Operating in more than 70 cities around the world and in national offices from Boca Raton in Florida to Westwood, Dole Food moved its headquarters in 1991 to Westlake Village, where company chairman and chief executive officer David H. Murdock resides. Since then, the company has leased four buildings in the Westlake Spectrum Business Park.

Dole Food acquired the 30-acre site west of Lindero Canyon Road, bordered by Via Colinas and Via Rocas, several years ago for its new headquarters. The company immediately began working with the city of Westlake Village on a suitable development for the property.

``We had an earlier, larger scheme originally. But then when the company began its reorganization, we had to downsize our own plans,'' Savrann said.

The company originally proposed a 340,000-square-foot complex to Westlake Village city planners but later withdrew the project as the company began to restructure its operations.

In 1995, the company split its fruit and vegetable production division from its real estate and resorts business company. And in December 1996, the company announced it would sell its money-losing dried fruit and nut business to concentrate on marketing its fresh fruits and vegetables and sold its fruit juice division to Seagrams/Tropicana.

Earlier this year, the city approved the current scaled-down version for a 160,000-square-foot facility, which will occupy about 10 acres of the 30-acre campus.

The project, expected to cost about $50 million to complete, includes a new three-story building with a red-brick facade for offices, an auditorium, various conferencing facilities, a computer center and a facility to offer training in the computer arts, Savrann said. A fourth basement level will offer underground parking.

Meticulously manicured landscaping will be welcomed at the 30-acre site, which has grown weedier and more unsightly over the years.

``I am very pleased to see the project moving ahead after the long delay,'' said City Councilman James Henderson. ``It will look excellent and be nicely landscaped. And we expect this to be quite advantageous for the city. After all, it's a world headquarters.''

Savrann said the city was very cooperative and patient in planning the project. He said the company will take shovels to the dirt at 11 a.m. Jan. 13.