Dutch soft-fruit grower Sikkert Berry’s has acquired Kwekerij de Westerbouwing, a berry-propagation nursery in Rossum. The completed purchase brings nursery operations, trial facilities and variety-licensing activities into the buyer’s business. Both Aart van Wijk, the buyer, and Geert de Weert, the seller, described the transaction in interviews originally reported by AGF.nl on 5 October.
The full nursery operation and its staff are being retained. De Westerbouwing will continue to operate under its established name, supplying plant material to customers, while Sikkert Berry’s supplies fruit. The company sees an opportunity to coordinate nursery work with seasonal demands at its berry-growing operations.
Plant propagation and cultivar access
De Westerbouwing has about 5 hectares used for raising plants and almost 1.5 hectares of plastic-covered greenhouse production, according to the interviews. These measures should not be interpreted as separate, additive land areas without a full site breakdown. The nursery has propagation licences for varieties developed by Advanced Berry Breeding and for the Loch Katrine blackberry.
Van Wijk said the nursery will retain its variety trial area, continue growing cuttings and young plants for buyers, and use some greenhouse space to grow Loch Katrine fruit. Bringing plant propagation and fruit production together changes control over the supply of planting material, but there are no verified targets for future nursery output or sales.
The group’s area expands beyond protected cropping
Van Wijk said the business’s combined growing area is increasing from 19 to 29 hectares through the nursery acquisition and other additional land. That 29-hectare figure includes outdoor redcurrant production as well as protected crops; it is not 29 hectares of greenhouses. The expansion also includes around half a hectare of glasshouse strawberries.
The transaction creates a closer link between breeding-related propagation, trials and finished soft-fruit supply. That could matter to commercial berry customers deciding where to source young plants, although the parties have not reported a quantified increase in capacity.
Undisclosed commercial terms
The purchase price, financing terms and production-volume outlook were not disclosed. Existing nursery customers are expected to keep dealing with De Westerbouwing, while the new owner takes responsibility for its staff and activities.
Key takeaways
- Sikkert Berry’s acquired the nursery, propagation activities and workforce of De Westerbouwing.
- Protected nursery space includes almost 1.5 hectares of plastic greenhouses.
- The 29-hectare combined figure covers mixed outdoor and protected growing land.
