The Greenery’s British subsidiary, Greenery UK, has acquired John Baarda Ltd, the country’s second-largest, but underperforming, tomato producer.
Under the terms of the transaction, John Baarda’s directors, chairman Andrew Lesser, managing director David Baarda and finance director Adrian Burrows, have all left the company, with Greenery UK now the firm’s sole shareholder.
Nigel Bartle, general manager of British Sugar’s horticultural business, Cornerways Nursery, and chairman of the British Tomato Growers Association, has been named equity partner and managing director of John Baarda, effective from 1 March 2012.
In a statement, The Greenery said the acquisition took place after John Baarda sought financial assistance from the Dutch group, already a shareholder, for the third time in two years following “several years of poor financial performance and operational challenges”.
Greenery UK managing director, Kevin Doran, said: “Across Europe, we are involved in ‘local for local’ partnerships with domestic producers. This is consistent with that posture, so with the support of producer partners, we elected to step in with the required financing.”
Outgoing managing director, David Baarda, added: “Given the very difficult circumstances, this is certainly the right way forward for the company.”
John Baarda and Cornerways Nursey are both members in Coforta UA, the grower group and producer organisation that is the single shareholder of The Greenery.
A new board of directors and advisory board has also been named for John Baarda to include major Netherlands-based grower Theo van Noord, Nigel Bartle and Kevin Doran, who will serve as chairman.
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