RZ-100-wt4-E-flipbook-240702 - Flipbook - Page 5
Moving forward together
Although there is plenty of growth, large foreign
multinationals are rapidly buying up Dutch plant
At Rijk Zwaan, people come first
breeding companies. In 1986, it is Rijk Zwaan’s turn.
The company is to be purchased by BP.
With a century of unparalleled dedication and
But not for long. Thanks to the enormous
innovation, Rijk Zwaan is celebrating its centenary.
commitment and perseverance of Anton van
This anniversary book is an ode to the journey
Doornmalen, Ben Tax and Maarten Zwaan, they
we have taken together, a journey full of new
give the Rijk Zwaan company its independence
ideas, growth, obstacles and successes. From its
back in 1989. Since then, Rijk Zwaan has been a
humble beginnings in Rotterdam and
family business.
Bergschenhoek to today’s global company at
the top of the vegetable breeding pyramid,
From 1986 onward, there has been unprecedented
Rijk Zwaan has always tried to create value for our
growth and development. As part of this, the
colleagues, customers, partners and society as
primary objective has always been to provide
a whole. With every seed that germinates, we are
employees with an enjoyable job with good
working together to build the future.
working conditions in the long term, as set out in
We look back on a century of achievements with
our triptych. The company quickly spread its wings
gratitude and look forward with optimism to a
in Europe, eventually operating with subsidiaries
future full of promise.
on every continent.
With participation in Key Gene and many more
This book is dedicated to everyone who contri-
research collaborations and an annual invest-
buted to our story. Starting with Rijk Zwaan himself,
ment of an average of 30 per cent of turnover
in 1924 in Rotterdam. With his mission to build
in research and development, Rijk Zwaan is now
long-term customer relationships based on the
one of the most renowned fruit and vegetable
best-quality seeds.
breeding companies in the world.
Rijk Zwaan, operating from Rotterdam, keeps
close track of developments in the field of plant
100 years of Rijk Zwaan; 100 years of stories about
breeding. New techniques are quickly introduced
pioneering, resilience, entrepreneurship and,
with new and better varieties as result.
above all, the people of Rijk Zwaan – they have
made Rijk Zwaan what it is today.
In the 1960s, a big step is taken by starting a
wholly owned subsidiary in Unna, Germany. This
Our history provides us with fertile ground to
subsidiary, which later moves to Welver, marks an
create new dreams for the future that take us
important step in breeding open-soil crops.
beyond the here and now.
Anton van Doornmalen
Ben Tax
Michiel Zwaan
