Univeg subsidiary Winchester Growers has acquired New Generation Daffodils.
With the acquisition on 30 August of fellow Cornish grower New Generation Daffodil, Winchester Growers becomes the largest daffodil business in the UK with some 1,153ha under production and approximately 28 million bunches, based on 2013 harvest volume.
New Generation’s daffodil stock is unique as it includes a range of early and late varieties and breeding stock developed by Mark van der Vliet and his family. All of New Generation’s staff, including van der Vliet and business partner Sonny Le Maistre, will join Winchester Growers “to help integrate the businesses and to use their expertise to drive forward the combined enterprise,” Winchester Growers said in a statement.
Winchester Growers produces and supplies cut flowers and plants to the major multiples including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. The company has a turnover of £52 million a year. Some 20 per cent of its production value is related to daffodils and cultivation is based mainly on a farm near Penzance. Winchester Growers also operates two sites in Lincolnshire, one in Spalding the second at Nocton. New Generation Daffodils near Camborne and all its production is based in Cornwall.
