Seed potato cooperative Agrico will focus on varieties and markets that contribute most to member returns. This means the cooperative will also decide to divest varieties and markets.
The 2024/25 annual report is titled "Growth through Focus." It follows on from "Stronger Together," which graced the cover of the annual report a year ago. That report focused primarily on the acquisitions of Royal ZAP and The Potato Company (TPC), which strengthened Agrico's position.
The cooperative's decision to focus on the best-performing varieties was announced last year, but now it's being widely publicized. It's time to focus, say goodbye, and invest, emphasizes Agrico CEO Mark Zuidhof in his foreword to the annual report for the past financial year.
Strong growth
Thanks to the acquisitions, Agrico has significantly expanded its acreage in the Netherlands. The company is also growing in organic potato production and abroad. Outside the Netherlands, Agrico sees ample opportunities for expanding its seed potato production, including in Denmark, Germany, and France. In doing so, the cooperative is addressing the limitations of further growth in the Netherlands and the increasing demand from international markets.
Growth is not a goal in itself, Agrico emphasizes. The acreage must continue to meet market demand. While the industry has grown strongly in recent years, the market has stalled this fiscal year. For example, the French fry market came under pressure in early 2025 due to factors such as the announced US import tariffs and relatively high European French fry prices. This creates uncertainty in the short term, but Agrico remains positive about further growth in the longer term.
Agrico will be critically reviewing its variety portfolio in the coming years. The cooperative also aims to respond to developments such as climate change and changes in legislation and regulations. This should result in varieties with strong resistance, low input requirements, and high output. "Our portfolio offers certainty where it matters most: yield, quality, and income. Demand for such robust varieties is increasing across the board. Agrico's variety portfolio meets these needs," says Mark Zuidhof.
Record turnover
Agrico achieved a record turnover of €537 million in the 2024/25 financial year. This result stems from the combination of high sales prices and a large volume of seed potato sizes, stated Agrico CFO Henk Feijen during the Central Members' Meeting held on Monday. "We've had a fantastic year," Feijen emphasized.
"As the Supervisory Board, we are proud of the course Agrico is pursuing," said Johan Barendregt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. "Especially in a challenging market, it's important to make choices that contribute to the cooperative's profitability and continuity. We see that Agrico is taking the right steps in this regard."