Rijk Zwaan has received this year's Grüner Merkur award, the initiative of German trade publication Fruchthandel awarded annually to a person or organisation in the international fruit and vegetable business.
The prize was handed out during the Deutschen Obst & Gemüse Congres in Düsseldorf, Germany, and was given to Rijk Zwaan in recognition of its achievements in boosting the fresh produce category.
According to the jury, Rijk Zwaan had demonstrated how collaboration throughout the entire vegetable chain can support the development of successful products.
“This is the only way to identify consumer wishes and future trends,' the jury concluded. 'The continual exchange of knowledge and the company’s future-oriented approach form an excellent basis for making carefully considered decisions about research and development.
“Rijk Zwaan repeatedly succeeds in launching innovative products which boost the sector as a whole and help to broaden the category. Hence, Rijk Zwaan is doing the industry a great service,” concluded the jury.
The group's innovative products have included the Salanova ‘convenience lettuce’ – winner of the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award 2006 – the social salad network Lovemysalad.com, and the Sweet Palermo pepper.
“In the past 20 years we have built up many long-lasting partnerships around the world, and we always strive for win-win situations,” said Jan Doldersum, manager marketing & business development. “We’re extremely proud to receive the Grüner Merkur and see this recognition by the sector as extra encouragement to proceed in the same manner. We intend to continue working together with our partners in the future to develop healthy and appealing products and hence contribute to increasing global vegetable consumption.”
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