Our Legacy

DUDA, founded in 1926 by Andrew Duda and his sons, began as a humble celery farm rooted in faith, hard work, and the American dream.

DUDA is owned by descendants of Andrew Duda, who emigrated from Slovakia to America in 1909 to pursue his American dream – to own land, freely practice his faith, and create a better life for his family. Duda was among a group of Slovak families who founded the small Slovak community of Slavia in Central Florida. After several years of hard work and perseverance in farming, Duda, and his three sons, John, Andrew, Jr., and Ferdinand (pictured top right), harvested their ﬁrst cash crop of celery in 1926 and established A. Duda & Sons.

These three sons, fondly referred to as the Three Seniors, were visionary in building the business, acquiring land, diversifying operations, relying on others inside and outside the business for advice, having integrity in their business practices and – above all else – trusting in God.

DUDA’s Evolution in Agriculture and Real Estate.

In the early 1970s, the reins of management were transferred to the third-generation sons of the Three Seniors. A more market-driven business strategy was developed for DUDA’s fresh produce operations to satisfy market demands. To provide farm-fresh produce year-round for a growing customer base, the company acquired farmland in California and Texas. Sod was also added to the company’s agricultural offerings in the 1970s.

In the 1980s, due to the growth of Brevard County, Florida, plans were set in motion to build a master-planned community on DUDA’s Cocoa Ranch. The town of Viera, which means “faith” in Slovak, was established in 1989. Eventually a home building division, commercial sales division, pool division, and a championship golf course were all added to the company’s fully integrated real estate operations.

In addition, DUDA has acquired a variety of commercial properties across the United States and is an active participant in this market as both buyer and seller. The commercial property portfolio is comprised of restaurants, retail stores, drug stores, warehouse distribution centers and oﬃce buildings across several states, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, Tennessee, and Texas.

Committed to People,
Communities, and Innovation.

Our operations at DUDA may be complex in nature, but our overarching goal is simple – we want to improve people’s lives in all that we do and how we do it. For nearly 100 years, we have been committed to doing right by our people, our customers, and the communities where we operate. DUDA has evolved from a humble celery farm to owning a diverse portfolio of businesses that boast industry-leading reputations in agriculture, community development and home building. Guided by our strong Christian faith and an innovative and adaptive spirit, I have no doubt that DUDA is poised to tackle the next century of opportunity.

Sammy Duda
President and CEO

Growing Together, Making an Eternal Difference.

Now in its fourth generation of leadership, the company is professionally managed by men and women of the fourth and fifth generations of the Duda family, and by a team of experienced non-family members. The company is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of six members of the Duda family and four non-family independent members from varying business backgrounds. In 2004, the Duda family established the Duda Family Council to address governance issues that family-owned businesses in their third and subsequent generations must begin to address (according to noted family business experts, only three percent of family businesses make it beyond their third generation in terms of leadership succession). The Council’s mission: One family, growing together, making an eternal difference. Through elected family representatives, the Council develops processes and structures for the family and shareholders.

The importance placed on philanthropy is reflected in DUDA’s stated purpose: We multiply and share God’s blessings. This philosophy is central to all of DUDA’s business operations and actions. They are the words we live and work by.

The values passed down from Andrew Sr. through each generation at DUDA have earned the company its reputation for quality, integrity, and innovation. A focus on market trends and customer needs has helped the company maintain a competitive edge in all business operations. DUDA has also been recognized as an industry leader in environmental stewardship and employee beneﬁt practices and is known for our business integrity.