VECHTA-CALVESLAGE, Germany — Big Dutchman is becoming a significant minority shareholder in the Dutch Ammerlaan group from Venlo in the Netherlands, the companies announced. A renowned full-service provider for innovative greenhouse projects, Ammerlaan is a family-owned business managed by Michel La Crois with more than 75 years of experience.
Ammerlaan’s 100 employees design and realize greenhouse structures for the production of fruit, vegetables, leafy greens and flowers in sizes from 2 to 20 hectares. The company focuses on high-tech greenhouses for sustainable and resource-efficient food production. Ammerlaan firmly believes that controlled-environment agriculture has an essential role in meeting the world’s demand for food. The company’s sales were approximately 60 million euro last year.
Among other countries, Ammerlaan is active in the Benelux, Germany, Switzerland, Russia and North America. With its seven international logistics centers and local presence in more than 80 countries, the Big Dutchman network will contribute to Ammerlaan’s continued international success.
“I am convinced that our strong global network will support the expansion of Ammerlaan,” said Big Dutchman CEO Bernd Meerpohl, who is looking forward to the partnership.
Ammerlaan’s managing director Michel La Crois adds: “Together, we can set new benchmarks in the greenhouse industry.”
Big Dutchman is highly interested in modern horticultural solutions, which will complement its business scope of egg, poultry and pig production systems.
“Innovative technologies lie at the core of our DNA. They extend our range of solutions and offer our customers new opportunities. We are not lacking ideas,” Meerpohl said.
True to the motto “Think global, act local,” Big Dutchman develops innovative equipment for modern and sustainable animal husbandry. Last year, the Big Dutchman group with 3,400 employees generated an annual turnover of nearly 1 billion euro.
