Rijk Zwaan achieves worldwide growth in centenary year

Rijk Zwaan grew its sales by 9% in the 2024/2025 financial year, taking the annual total to €684 million. The growth occurred across virtually all of the fruit and vegetable breeding company's active regions and crops.

"Our growth reflects Rijk Zwaan's strength," says board member Ben Tax. "We combine the long-term vision of a people-oriented family-owned company with a sharp focus on innovation. Moreover, these financial results are extra special given that the past year was also our centenary year."

© Rijk Zwaan

Continuous innovation
In the 2024/2025 financial year, Rijk Zwaan spent over €200 million on Research & Development worldwide – including €130 million in the Netherlands alone. This puts Rijk Zwaan in 11th place in the Dutch Top 30 R&D ranking. "Innovation is the engine of our company," states Ben Tax. "It enables us to accelerate the breeding process, and to develop varieties that perform well in many different climate conditions, are aligned with sustainable production methods, and meet the needs of growers, chain partners, and consumers. That's how we keep making a worldwide impact with our seeds."

In 2024/2025, Rijk Zwaan introduced more than 200 new varieties, including a tropical cauliflower variety, ToBRFV-resistant tomato varieties, and a seedless yellow watermelon that was granted the Superior Taste Award by the International Taste Quality Institute (ITQI).

© Rijk Zwaan

Broad international portfolio
Rijk Zwaan's product range covers more than 30 crops and contains over 2,000 varieties in total. In September 2024, the company opened a new trial station in Lam Dong, Vietnam, where breeders can test varieties for Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian growers under local conditions. "With our broad portfolio of crops, we want to contribute to sustainable vegetable production worldwide," comments Ben Tax. "By maintaining a local presence and working together with growers and chain partners, we can continue to respond to specific market requirements."

© Rijk ZwaanRijk Zwaan's newest location in Lam Long, Vietnam's primary horticultural region.

Supplying seeds worldwide
The company also invested in improving its logistics operations. In April 2025, Rijk Zwaan opened the Seed Connect Centre in De Lier, concluding the biggest investment project in the family-owned company's history. This new facility expands the seed processing capacity and strengthens the logistics processes, further safeguarding the delivery reliability of vegetable seeds around the globe.

© Rijk ZwaanAn employee demonstrates equipment in the Seed Connect Centre.

Future outlook
"Rijk Zwaan is a stable company with a long-term view," concludes Ben Tax. "We will continue to invest in knowledge, technology, and collaboration. That's how we contribute to not only an efficient vegetable value chain, but also a healthy future for people worldwide."