Aug. 16, 2012 De Lier, the Netherlands — Agribio Group, one of the
world’s largest flower and plant breeding companies, has purchased Ecke
Ranch from the family owners.
Aug. 16, 2012 De Lier, the Netherlands — Agribio Group, one of the world’s largest flower and plant breeding companies, has purchased Ecke Ranch from the family owners.
Ecke is a leading poinsettia breeder, with a turnover of $25 million (US). With this acquisition, Agribio Group strengthens its global top-three position and broadens its product portfolio.
Ecke Ranch has been a market leader in poinsettias for many years with an extensive genetic pool.
Agribio Group has strengthened its position in the North American market with the combination of Fides Oro and Ecke Ranch.
Ecke maintains its brand name after the acquisition and the management remains with the company, together with the breeders.
“I am pleased that the acquisition of Ecke Ranch enables us to service our customers even better, with a broader assortment and more innovation power,” says Agribio Group CEO Harry Kloppenburg.
“We are proud to be able to continue with the brand name Ecke. Together with our brand Fides Oro, Ecke will give a strong impulse to sustainable growth and innovation. Therefore, I expect a lot from this new combination and the new opportunities that this offers to our customers worldwide. For our European customers it means they can now rely on a year-round product offering.”
Ecke Ranch president Andy Higgins says that with this acquisition, “Ecke Ranch is well positioned to address the needs of the supply chain partners. Our team remains committed to our poinsettia breeding and our customers. Agribio Group will be a catalyst to further our efforts through enhanced breeding, innovative supply chain solutions, and more focused retail programs.”
ABOUT AGRIBIO
Agribio Group is active in 56 countries and trades over one billion cuttings per year. The company is a global top-three player in terms of breeding and vegetative propagation of plants and flowers. The Agribio Group includes top breeding companies such as Fides, Japan Agribio, Barberet & Blanc, Bartels Stek, and Lex+. The company has 2,400 employees and annual sales of around $111 million (US).
ABOUT ECKE RANCH
Ecke Ranch is a market leader in poinsettias. As a prominent breeder of flowering plants with a history of nearly 100 years, the company is among the top five cutting producers in the U.S. It has facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Guatemala, Denmark and Spain, and has more than 1,000 employees.
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