Van der Knaap Group and Premier Tech

Premier Tech and Van der Knaap join forces: a strategic move that benefits the industry on both sides of the Atlantic.

In a move that will bring significant benefits to growers in both North America and Europe, Premier Tech is proud to announce the integration of the Van der Knaap Group - a Dutch leader in substrate solutions, organic fertilizers and rooting products - into its Growers and Consumers division. With a strong focus on sustainable, nature-inspired solutions, Premier Tech Growers and Consumers has a broad portfolio of products that improve crop yields and crop health in agriculture and horticulture. This strategic acquisition enables both companies to deliver even greater value to their customers by sharing expertise and product offerings, driving innovation and strengthening their global presence - further solidifying their industry leadership positions.

"Welcoming the Van der Knaap team into Premier Tech's ecosystem opens the door to open collaboration and sharing our respective knowledge and expertise. This strategic pooling of people and expertise represents an important milestone and fits perfectly with our long-term strategy to strengthen our global footprint in Europe and the Americas and enhance our ability to deliver innovative solutions worldwide," said Jean Bélanger, president and CEO of Premier Tech.

This strategic move is seen as a logical next phase for both organizations, which have worked together for many years. It highlights their shared commitment to innovation, a people-oriented approach and the desire to build valuable partnerships for the benefit of clients and other industry stakeholders. Both companies are convinced that this move contributes to a strong and sustainable future for their employees, customers and partners - and see it as an important milestone in their mission to better feed, protect and improve the world.

The Van der Knaap Group was founded by brothers Ron and Perry van der Knaap. "Driven by our ambition to continue investing in sustainable and innovative solutions for horticulture, we went looking for a strong, strategic partner. We found that partner in Premier Tech from Canada - a company with more than a hundred years of experience. We share the same vision of cooperation, innovation and sustainability, and that has been the basis for this step. Together, we will make both organizations future-proof," says Ron van der Knaap.

Van der Knaap is a leader in the field of coir substrates. Thanks to continuous innovation, the company has developed a wide range of high-quality coir products, produced at various locations worldwide. Through this partnership, Premier Tech positions itself as a global market leader in coir fiber-based products for horticulture.

"By joining forces, we are not only building on our existing product portfolios, but also strengthening our position in the global market," said Martin Pelletier, president of Premier Tech Growers and Consumers. "The entire Van der Knaap team remains active to support this momentum, ensuring continuity in ongoing projects - a crucial factor in our joint success and future."

"The cooperation with Premier Tech enables us to integrate upstream into the raw materials chain faster. This increases our control over the availability and quality of essential sustainable raw materials. It is a strategic move that not only strengthens our supply reliability, but also contributes to the continuity and sustainability of the solutions we offer our customers," said Jelte Veenstra, CEO of the Van der Knaap Group.

About Premier Tech

For over 100 years, Premier Tech has been all about making a difference, connecting people and technologies. One team, driven by the shared ambition to deliver sustainable solutions that help feed, protect and improve our world. Premier Tech boasts a wide range of products, services, brands and technologies that increase crop yields, make gardens flourish, automate industrial processes, purify and reuse water, support companies in their digital transformation and provide bio-ingredients for human and animal well-being.

Premier Tech today achieves sales of more than one billion dollars and is growing internationally, driven by its 5,200 team members in 28 countries.

More information:www.premiertech.com

About the Van der Knaap Group

The Van der Knaap Group is a Dutch family business with production facilities around the world. For more than 40 years we have been developing sustainable and high-quality products and services together with our customers. Our drives - quality, innovation and sustainability - are reflected in our extensive range of rooting and growing media and organic fertilizers. Through years of experience and research in our own innovation center, we have built up a great deal of knowledge about the entire cultivation process. We cooperate with growers worldwide and support them with knowledge and certified products for maximum yield.

The Van der Knaap Group is the link between renewable resources and a wide range of sustainably grown crops. We strive for a healthy environment, provide employment opportunities and support communities wherever we operate in the world.

More information:www.vanderknaap.info/en