Commercial director Ian Botes says further acquisitions of breeders by growers are ‘unlikely’ after ‘surprise’ JV acquisition of veg seed competitor
CN Seeds’ commercial director Ian Botes says the UK fresh produce industry has been “a little shocked” by the Tozer Seeds joint venture, but insists he is “glad” a UK fresh business rather than a capital investment company has bought the vegetable breeder.
He added that he doesn’t think this is the start of a new trend of UK growers owning seed companies.
Botes’ comments to FPJ follow the JV acquisition of Tozer by G’s Group and A Duda & Sons, as well as Burgess Farms’ recent management buyout supported by private investment firm Chiltern Capital.
The JV, announced in early February, includes Tozer’s operations in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, and the US, with Tozer continuing to operate as an independent seed business, retaining its name and leadership team.
Under the deal, Tozer Seeds will remain focused on breeding, multiplication, and global sales of specialty horticultural crops such as celery, parsnips, kale, coriander, rocket, squash, legumes, and leeks.
The venture builds on a decade-long partnership between A Duda & Sons and G’s Group, during which G’s has enjoyed exclusive access to Duda Generations proprietary celery genetics and seed varieties in Europe.
Meanwhile, G’s has collaborated with Tozer for more than 30 years across its growing regions.
Botes said Tozer is a competitor, with both breeders developing varieties in the leafy salad, herb and oriental vegetable sectors. However, since celery is Tozer’s biggest crop and the main one it currently supplies to G’s, Botes described the product overlap between Tozer and CN Seeds as “minimal”.
“We both have a space in the market, and I can’t see that changing,” he told FPJ.
“Since G’s already uses Tozer celery varieties like Victoria, the deal makes sense. Companies like G’s like to make sure they have control of what is around them, and this deal gives them more security around varietal development, particularly in celery.”
Nevertheless, Botes speculated that the JV “might place a question mark on other breeding companies putting on trials at G’s now that G’s owns its own genetics”.
“I imagine there will be quite a lot to sort out between the three companies in terms of how they move forward and take everybody on board, including other seed companies that work with G’s and A Duda & Sons,” he said.
“I think the industry has been a little bit shocked and surprised by the deal. It’s not so common for a UK grower to own a breeder.
“You see it more in the US but it’s usually very specific to one crop or segment. Tozer, by contrast, has a broader portfolio. It looks like the focus will be on celery but that’s only an assumption.
“Growing and breeding are both tough but different jobs, so I don’t think this is the start of a new trend in the UK fresh produce industry. In my opinion it’s unlikely we will see more acquisitions of breeders by growers.”
New varieties at CN Seeds
CN Seeds’ portfolio includes a wide range of herb, leafy salad, oriental vegetable, pumpkin and squash varieties. And as well as commenting on the Tozer deal, the company was keen to promote two new additions to its offer.
Supply chain and inventory manager James Taylor highlighted Cutter as a new coriander variety with improved vigour and bolting tolerance compared to CN Seeds’ long-established market-leading variety Cruiser. Strong, thick stems give Cutter string field-holding ability and a wide harvest window, with high tolerance to adverse weather.
Meanwhile, Mallory is new wild rocket that performs best in hot summer conditions. It has thick, dark green, processable leaves that give high yield and long shelf life. The variety also offers uniform and high leaf count and is slow-bolting, with good potential for recut growing.
