KWS and van Rijn set up an international joint venture in the potato business
Announced last February, the joint venture between KWS (50%) and Handelmaatschappij Van Rijn (50%) started operating since last 1st of July. Located at the Van Rijn head office in Poeldijk, Van Rijn KWS has Aad van der Windt as CEO and Ernst Arn as CFO.
While Van Rijn brings in all its varieties, markets and breeding expertise in seed potatoes, it will benefit from the advanced technology of KWS in the development of sugarbeets, corn and cereal varieties (more than 1000 people work at its laboratory department alone). ”We believe to take a step ahead of other potato breeders in terms of breeding technology” declares Ap Ruinard, sales manager of the seed potato department. Both companies will also benefit from their commercial network, in Eastern Europe and Northern Africa in particular.
Van Rijn increases its line of crisping varieties with Satellite and VR 808, as well as new baby potatoes with the variety Piccolo star . Its stake on the organic line is also paying off, since its variety Biogold now represents 30% of the Dutch production of biological warepotatoes. Its very early cycle avoids Phythophtora problems.
Established for the past 5 years, Van Rijn France increases its production in different segments. Santana (processing for Mc Cain, export), Ramos, Everest (very early table potato) and Labadia are its main multiplication programs. Nearly 400 ha are being multiplied in 2008, representing a 30% increase from 2007. Van Rijn Potatoes trades 40.000 tons annually, still to increase with the French and German multiplication programs.
