Four years after its merger, Oxin Growers continues growing with a new executive team addition. Ruud den Boer joins it as commercial director, previously serving as this Dutch cooperative's commercial manager.
With Ruud's appointment, Ton van Dalen can hand over his commercial responsibilities and focus on sustainability and external relations.
Juggling both roles was no longer feasible. Ton, Ruud, and Hans Prins now form this rapidly growing cooperative's executive team from this year onwards.
"With our cooperative's growth and the increasing tasks facing the board, we were looking for reinforcement. We found that in Ruud. He's developed well in the 2.5 years he's been with us," begins Ton.
"Over the past nine months, I've increasingly taken on final responsibility for commerce," Ruud adds. "Many tasks will remain the same for me. The biggest change is that I'll assume final commercial responsibility. We'll, of course, keep jointly doing so a three-person board."
Rapid growth
As mentioned, Oxin Growers has expanded rapidly. "Especially in the past year, there have been many changes," Ton says, referring to acreage and new member growth. He mentions the bell pepper expansion as an example. Just after the 2020 merger, Oxin had 470 hectares of bell peppers to market. Today, it has 630 hectares.
"We see this development in other areas as well. Our turnover has thus increased and reached a record turnover of over € 900 million last year, including crates and fees. It's, thus, vital to continue organizing sales well for members. Ruud will head that role."
License to produce
Sustainability is and will be a significant focus for Ton in his new role. "It's obviously a broad concept for Oxin Growers and the entire sector. More and more issues are involved. As Oxin Growers, that demands our full attention. Also, now that Ruud is taking over commerce as a fellow board member, I can focus on external relations, too," he says.
"Industry organizations, Glastuinbouw Nederland and GroentenFruit Huis, mostly take the increasingly necessary political lobbying. Yet, on topics that affect our production license, like energy, water consumption, and crop protection, it's essential for our growers' cooperative to present the right story," Ton adds.
He and the directors of the other four major growers' associations take on this role from the Fruit Vegetable Organizations Federation (FVO). "We think it's important for our individual growers' cooperative to be represented in sector-wide collaborations, consultations, and activities. We must represent our members' interests."
Annual plans
Oxin Growers, thus, begins 2024 with a three-member board. They hope for another good sales year, and trade shows are high on the agenda. In late January, the Fruitteelt Sector Trade Show, and right after, in early February, Fruit Logistica. There is usually a cocktail party on the first day, where the board will share its plans for the year. "But we'll mainly focus on cultivation and sales in the coming period. We want to organize this as well as possible for our members," Ton concludes.
For more information:
Oxin Growers
Tel.: +31 (0) 180 203 202
[email protected]
www.oxin-growers.nl