News Potatoes
Agrico turnover above €400 million due to high prices
Potato cooperative Agrico from Emmeloord reports that this year's turnover will exceed €400 million for the first time this season. A record amount of €233 million has been paid out to members. Both the sale of seed potatoes and consumption potatoes generated more euros. This is due to the significantly higher potato prices. The subsidiaries also earned more abroad.
The cooperative achieved a consolidated turnover of €409,75 million for the 2022/23 season. That is €66,62 million more than last season, which was also the old record. The operating balance (gross profit) did decrease, from €2,27 to €1,53 million. Equity has decreased by €1 million, but the share of debt capital also shrank from more than €40 to €34 million. The share of subordinated loans increased from €6,7 to €10,8 million.
More volume, but above all higher prices
Sales from seed potatoes were approximately €34 million higher than in the previous year (+16%). For ware potatoes this was €19 million (+50%). This is mainly due to the higher potato prices and not so much to the volume. The seed potato area at Agrico remained virtually unchanged last season at 14.733 hectares. A total of 555.900 tons of potatoes were delivered. That is 54.200 tons more than in the 2021/22 season. The area of ware potatoes decreased by 17% to 1.991 hectares. The volume also shrank slightly. The number of companies that are members of the cooperative also decreased (by thirteen). The number of members with 65.
Agrico also has to deal with high costs. Mainly thanks to inflation and transport and logistics costs.
Investing in a sustainable beeper
The word 'sustainable' also appeared at the country's largest seed potato cooperative. In this case, the development of sustainable varieties for future growth. To this end, the company is investing in expanding its laboratory facilities. New varieties can be developed by applying modern breeding techniques.
Furthermore, during the central members meeting, the baton was officially handed over by Jan van Hoogen to Mark Zuidhof. He was already appointed general manager this autumn. Van Hoogen had worked for Agrico since 1989 and was its face for ten years. Chairman Adrie Vermeulen simultaneously transferred his position to the North Holland seed potato grower Johan Barendregt.
Niels van der Boom
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