The group’s annual accounts have been filed, with Rijk Zwaan investing heavily in seed processing capacity and R&D
Netherlands-based breeding specialist Rijk Zwaan enjoyed growth in net sales and net profit in 2023/24.
The group’s annual accounts were filed with the Chamber of Commerce today (30 October), revealing that net sales increased by 6 per cent to €627mn.
This increase, Rijk Zwaan said, occurred in almost all active regions and across all crops.
Global market share was approximately 10 per cent, it noted.
Net profit for the year came in at €80mn, a jump from the €60mn recorded in 2022/23.
“In the 2023/2024 financial year, Rijk Zwaan increased its sales by 6 per cent to €627mn,” confirmed company director Ben Tax.
”This growth is spread across all the markets and crops in which our company is active.
”Thanks to the revenue growth and increase in net profit, we are able to continue investing in the future,” he noted.
Rijk Zwaan said it had invested €143mn in new seed processing facilities as well as in research and product development in 2023/24.
“A large part of this investment went towards our new Seed Connect Centre, which is located at our headquarters and will officially open in spring 2025,” Tax continued.
”This facility will expand our capacity for seed cleaning, processing and packaging, enabling us to keep pace with the growing demand for high-quality seeds.”
In addition, investments in research and development had amounted to €191mn through the year.
“Every year, we invest approximately 30 per cent of our sales back into R&D,” he outlined.
”The official opening of our new breeding facility for the development of strawberries, blackberries and raspberries was one notable milestone over the past year. This facility enables us to accelerate our new breeding programme for berries.”
Rijk Zwaan celebrated its centenary on 1 July, and the occasion was marked by the King’s commissioner granting the company the designation ‘Royal’.
“We feel hugely honoured to receive this royal seal of approval,” Tax enthused. ”It’s a symbol of societal appreciation and underlines the durability of our company.
”The designation ‘Royal’ is a crowning achievement of the work of all our employees – in the present, in the past and in the future. Because, above all, it’s our 4,000 people who form the heart and soul of Rijk Zwaan.”
Looking ahead, Tax commented that Rijk Zwaan would stay true to its goal of offering growers, chain partners and consumers worldwide a broad range of high-quality fruit and vegetable varieties.
”Our growth is stable and we are very confident about the future – our next century,” he concluded.
