RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 102
‘Respect
for the
environment’
Rijk Zwaan employees should
be constantly asking themselves how they can help
improve the environment.
Besides the primary focus on the employee(s), the
Continuity
document contains a number of other noteworthy
If the company wants to offer its employees a
items. For example, it stipulates that powers and
sustainable job, then the continuity of the company
responsibilities will be decentralised as much
will obviously have to be ensured. Having learned
as possible. The company will have a horizontal
from the takeover ups and downs, the Board
organisational structure with a maximum of four
decides to place the shares in ‘Stichting Admini-
levels of responsibility. This includes the stipulation
stratiekantoor Directie Rijk Zwaan’. As with many
that decision-making must be based on sound
family businesses, the shares are split into ‘bare’
argumentation. It literally states: ‘Blindly following
shares, to which control is attached, and depositary
orders, without a critical mind, is not our style’.
receipts, to which economic benefits are attached.
Another notable point in this document is that of
This seriously complicates marketability, preventing
‘pleasant sobriety’. The last point relates to
problems such as those that occurred with BP.
concern for the environment. Rijk Zwaan employees
should constantly consider whether and how
In addition, Rijk Zwaan assures itself of the qualities
they can help to improve the environment. In
of three competent supervisory directors who
decision-making processes, the environmental
have the company’s best interests at heart.
aspect should be an important factor in addition
Messrs W. Adema, H. de Boon and H. Velema.
to economic interests.
The latter was an adviser to the works council at
the time of the tumultuous negotiations with BP.
The recording of these points in a document that
They have been Board members since the realisa-
everyone must adhere to is the culmination of a
tion of the management buyout. In 1993, business-
process that has been going on for some time.
woman of the year 1984, Ms E. Kavanagh, replaces
To a large extent, the Board has stipulated in a
Mr Velema.
legally binding way the good traits that were
already present at Rijk Zwaan in various forms.
Internationalisation
It makes Rijk Zwaan a unique company.
With renewed courage, Rijk Zwaan is aiming for
further growth. The goals that the company set
itself in 1986 still apply today. Growth should
enable the company to stay afloat amid the rising
tide of multinationals acquiring rival companies.
The growth model envisages the acquisition of a
number of (smaller) companies and expansion of
the number of foreign subsidiaries. Further risk
diversification is pivotal to this. Rijk Zwaan wants
to focus on more vegetable crops and expand its
sales market. Further internationalisation of the
company is necessary in order to achieve this.
A new way of cleaning seeds
on the basis of specific
gravity: liquid cleaning.
100
Rijk Zwaan | Moving forward together
