News

Dutch-based vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has won the ‘Best Employer’ award in the Netherlands within the Production & Industry category. This was announced during the award show of the largest employee satisfaction study organised in the Netherlands.

Rijk Zwaan’s vegetable breeding programmes revolve around innovation. With the company’s win of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award for Knox™ in 2017 still fresh in everyone’s mind, Rijk Zwaan will once again be focusing on innovation at this year’s Fruit Logistica – the world’s leading international fresh produce trade show, which is being held from 7 to 9 February 2018 in Berlin.

On January 1st 2018, Rijk Zwaan Vietnam LLC will take over the sales activities from the current exclusive Vietnam Rijk Zwaan distributor. With the establishment of this new sales subsidiary, Dutch-based breeding company Rijk Zwaan expects to reach a stronger market position in the region.

Rijk Zwaan Zaadteelt en Zaadhandel B.V. generated net turnover of €420 million in the 2016/2017 financial year. That represents an increase of 8% over the previous financial year. This growth enables Rijk Zwaan to continue its substantial investments in research and development (R&D).

Maarten Zwaan passed away on Monday 18 September at the age of 82. Maarten was on the Board of Directors at Rijk Zwaan from 1988 to 2000 and was co-shareholder of the company.

Vegetable breeding company Rijk Zwaan has extended its product range with a frilly, open lettuce type with the bite of iceberg lettuce. What makes this new Crystal lettuce unique is its exceptional suitability for use in hot dishes. This week, it has been presented to the Asian market during Rijk Zwaan’s Asian Leafy Days.

Rijk Zwaan has launched its first three commercial squash varieties. The breeding company offers a complete market solution under its own identity, with outstanding fruit quality.

Rijk Zwaan will be able to expand its research activities as one of the partners of the Crops of the Future Collaborative. This new public-private consortium is convened by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR, located in the USA) and has research on leafy vegetables as one of its points of attention.

Rijk Zwaan has today officially opened its Retail Center in Berlin, Germany. The Retail Center is Rijk Zwaan’s latest step in further improving its service to retailers and identifying the right priorities for the company’s breeding programmes.

On Friday 10 February 2017, the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award was presented for the eleventh time. Over 70,000 visitors to the trade fair were invited to vote for their favourite out of the ten nominees, and Rijk Zwaan is extremely honoured and proud to announce that Knox™ emerged as the winner.