HZPC Group turnover rises to 525 million euros

HZPC announced earlier this year that new sales records were on the horizon. Global sales of over 1 million tons of seed potatoes are considered a significant milestone. Combined with higher prices, this has boosted turnover to €525 million, €110 million more than last year.

According to Huistra, HZPC and Stet achieved growth in all major markets. "We saw higher volumes and prices in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas." The gross margin rose to €96,4 million. Thanks to cost management, net profit also increased significantly to €17,1 million, excluding the costs of the Connecting Growers program. Since the 2021 harvest, HZPC has been purchasing certificates annually and awarding them to active seed potato growers in the European Union.

Growers benefit directly from the financial performance. In addition to the previously announced historically high payout prices, the group is paying a dividend of €10,90 per certificate, making growers co-owners of the group. According to the trading platform, the value of the certificate is €121,59.

Challenging new season
The current fiscal year will be challenging. This is particularly true for open-field varieties, says Huistra. He points to the price drop on the open-field markets at the end of the previous season and the situation on the European consumer potato markets and several major export markets. "We are satisfied with the past year, but we remain vigilant," assures the CEO of Royal HZPC Group.

HZPC continues to see growth, particularly in its new potato varieties. In the French fry segment, varieties such as Quintera, Travolta, Invictus, Cardyma, and Castor are growing strongly. In crisps, Norman and various Stet varieties are performing well. For traditional export markets, Rashida and Panamera are leading the way, while in the fresh produce segment, Libra and Brianna are gaining ground alongside European market leader Colomba, which continues to grow.