Dutch vegetable seed breeder Bejo has acquired lettuce specialist Agrisemen in order to gain a market position in lettuce breeding.
The Warmenhuizen-headquartered firm said lettuce is a growing market sector and fits well with the crop plan of its clients. Meanwhile, Breda-based Agrisemen said the move is an opportunity to “rapidly expand its business operations”, and achieve its growth ambitions more quickly.
There will not be any redundancies as a result of the acquisition.
Agrisemen managing director Jack Burgers will remain involved in the organisation and will play an “important role” over the next two years in the integration of the lettuce product range into the Bejo business.
The premises of Breda-based Agrisemen will remain as breeding station, in which Bejo will continue to invest in the coming years.
'Lettuce is a popular vegetable and a major global crop. It fits very well into our product range and the crop plan of our clients,' said Bejo CEO John-Pieter Schipper.
'Agrisemen has extensive knowledge and an excellent lettuce breeding program. This collaboration would therefore be a great addition to our current product range.'
Burgers said: “With Bejo as a partner we are gaining access to an extensive international sales and distribution network and the latest research technologies.'
'This allows us to achieve our growth ambitions quicker. For us it was a conscious decision to seek an alliance with a Dutch family business where we would be a welcome addition with our product range.'
As well as lettuce, the Agrisemen portfolio includes climbing beans, Brussels sprouts and pointed cabbage, which will continue under the brand name of Agrisemen after the acquisition.
Bejo seeds are distributed in the UK exclusively through Lincolnshire-based firm Elsoms Seeds.
