RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 125
logistics department at the Honderdland business
Rijk Zwaan, ‘a global company’
park in Maasdijk. There, seeds of bulk crops such
Rijk Zwaan also remains firmly established abroad.
as spinach, lamb’s lettuce and carrots are received,
In the period 1999-2013, internationalisation, which
cleaned, sanitised and packed.
Rijk Zwaan tentatively started in the 1960s, gains
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06
Anamur RZ
Eggplant
momentum. A large number of new subsidiaries
The necessary expansion is also taking place in
are set up worldwide, including RZ Argentina
De Lier. For example, the production greenhouse
(2000), RZ China (2001), RZ QSem (Tanzania, 2002),
is being expanded. In early 2008, the ten new
RZ Italy (2004), RZ Mexico (2007), RZ Chile (2007),
departments in the production greenhouse – an
RZ Afrisem (Tanzania, 2007), RZ Morocco (2008),
expansion of no less than 7,000 m² – are put into
RZ Promex (Mexico, 2008), RZ Egypt (2009),
operation. That same year, the first pile is driven for
RZ India (2010), RZ Almaty (Kazakhstan, 2010) and
a new phytopathology centre, the most modern
RZ Brazil (2011).
of its kind in Europe, consisting of a laboratory
In addition, the existing foreign subsidiaries are
with offices, greenhouses and 45 climate cells.
expanded. In Mexico, for example, besides the
‘De Focus’, as this new phytopathology research
sales office and breeding station that have been
centre is called, will be officially opened in May
operating since early 2007 there will also be a new
2009, making it the largest ever investment in
production location: Rijk Zwaan Promex.
Breakthrough
for outdoor
cultivation
in Turkey. .
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06
Thunder RZ
Pepper
Breakthrough
variety in China.
Winter cultivation.
Uniform fruits.
High production.
Rijk Zwaan’s history.
Rijk Zwaan’s many breeding and trial locations
The state-of-the-art facilities in the new laboratory
in all corners of the world are enabling the
are indispensable due to the increasing impor-
company to develop and distribute vegetable
tance of resistance breeding. After all, due to
varieties specifically designed for the diverse
the increasing interconnectedness of the global
climate conditions and needs of local consumers.
market and more intensive types of agriculture
The pace at which Rijk Zwaan subsidiaries are
and horticulture, plant diseases are spreading
springing up like mushrooms worldwide is remark-
around the world with increasing speed and
able. Setting up a subsidiary requires a lot of
frequency. In addition, the Seed Technological
‘picking and choosing’, as current Board member
Centre (ZTC), completed in 1999, where
Marco van Leeuwen calls it. After all, the success
Rijk Zwaan’s globally produced seeds are
of a subsidiary depends on finding reliable people
received, cleaned, processed and packaged, is
and partners. ‘That’s where many companies make
also expanded in 2009 and again in 2011.
mistakes,’ says Marco.
In view of the stringent requirements governing
From the outset, Rijk Zwaan’s corporate culture,
seed-borne diseases, Rijk Zwaan decides to build
with its universal values, is embedded in its
a completely new production facility in De Lier, in
subsidiaries and in this way spread across the
which strict hygiene measures according to the
globe. As part of this, the ‘One Worldwide Family’
so-called GSPP hygiene protocol are applied.
video on the company’s culture is also very
The new production location is a ‘closed’ location.
important. In this video, employees of Rijk Zwaan
This reduces the risk of seed-borne diseases in
from all over the world tell in their own words what
tomato and other fruiting vegetables. The new
working at Rijk Zwaan means to them.
facility, appropriately named De Vesting (‘The
The video has played a major role in commu-
Fortress’), opens in 2010. One year later Rijk Zwaan
nicating Rijk Zwaan’s core values around the
also opens a new location in De Lier for breeding
world and in job applications and interviews with
fruiting vegetable crops: ‘De Serre (‘The Glasshouse’.)
external stakeholders.
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Carribean Gold RZ
Melon
A new version of the
triptych, but still with
A best-seller
for years.
Biggest sale ever.
Breakthrough variety
in Latin America.
the same content.
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Emperador RZ
Rootstock
tomato
Highest
nematode
resistance.
Most sold
2007-2008
This location consists of greenhouses, business
premises with space for seed processing, storage
and offices, conference rooms and a canteen.
2000-2014 | Chain activities and the growing position in society
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