Dümmen and Agribio Group announce plans to merge

Dümmen and Agribio Group have announced their intent to merge, combining Agribio’s breeding technologies with Dümmen’s supply chain experience to produce a more complete portfolio with a unique international production and sales network, according to company reports.

The new company will have approximately 6,000 employees worldwide and will realize $235 million in sales annually. The Dümmen family and management and H2 Equity Partners will be the new company’s shareholders.

Dümmen and Agribio state that the merger is being driven by changes within the worldwide floricultural industry. Retailers are growing in importance and growers are consolidating, creating an environment that demands more value within the supply chain and improved ability to implement and capitalize on technological advances in breeding.

The new company reportedly will have two divisions. The Agribio division will assume responsibility for cut flowers and pot plants, and the Dümmen division will oversee bedding plants and poinsettias. The new company plans to broaden offerings within current brands like Fides, Red Fox, Barberet & Blanc, Lex+ and Ecke, according to press reports.

Harry Kloppenburg, current CEO of Agribio, will lead the Agribio division, and Perry Wismans and Tobias Dümmen, current Dümmen board members, will oversee the Dümmen division. The North American operations of Agribio – including Oro Farms and Ecke – will become part of the Dümmen division.

“Because of this merger, we are virtually capable of offering the full range of products in all continents,” said Kloppenburg in a press statement. “Hence we have the opportunity to create a unique company focused on supplying new and differentiating products with a good price/quality ratio to our customers, thereby creating added value to the entire floricultural chain.”