Grow-Tech, Quick Plug and Omni Growing Solutions unite as Quick Plug Global

Quick Plug BV, Grow-Tech Inc. and Omni Growing Solutions Inc. are continuing their work under a completely rebuilt Quick Plug brand. The new company identity was revealed at the recent GreenTech exhibition, where we caught up with Managing Director, John van der Maarel, who updated us on the ambitious growth plans of the company. 

Change is not new to this global Quick Plug team. They’ve all been through similar experiences during the past year. The Dutch plug company Quick Plug, as well as US company Grow-Tech, were acquired by Dümmen Orange; ultimately joining the existing Dümmen Orange owned brand, Omni Growing Solutions. Now the three companies have combined their strengths under the leadership of John van der Maarel, a 35-year veteran in the plug industry. They are now taking their first steps together as a united company. John remarked, “Thanks to the acquisitions, the growth opportunities match the ambition of the management team at the company. Things are moving fast at Quick Plug these days.”

“The Quick Plug products are of the highest quality for the industry,” John explains. “It’s no wonder that these products are the market leaders in high value crops like orchids. Even though they’re not the cheapest option on the market, the quality sets them apart. Thanks to the research being done, the choice of materials, and the grower specific approach, the performance of the plugs have no equal in the market. We start only with the best raw materials – a must when you are working with high value crops and custom formulated production. And that’s what growers see as the benefit and the value.” 

 

According to John, the team has the same growth ambition for the North American market. Currently not all of the product lines are being produced in the US. This will not be the case for long though. A state of the art production line is to be shipped there and, as of the end of 2019, growers can expect to be supplied with US produced Quick Plug products to complement the full range of existing products that growers already trust. “We will use all of the same high-quality materials as we do here in Holland, but we will soon have the logistic advantages of the products being made in the US. Thanks to the existing networks of the Grow-Tech and the Omni teams, we expect exceptional growth in North America.”

There’s more growth in the pipeline. In the Netherlands, the headquarters is currently expanding and a third production line is in the works. Because of the planned new line, all of the European production has shifted to the Netherlands. On top of that, Quick Plug is experiencing rapid growth these days. “In the European orchid market, we grow in step with our customers: when they are expanding, as they are now, we have to be prepared. Globally, there are many new opportunities for us in the Asia Pacific region. Taiwan and China are showing huge interest. However, Brazil and other South American countries are as well.” With the research background of the three companies united, the development of new products has also been ramped up. “We are working on new products, not only for young plants, but also for other phases of plant production where we can add value for the customer and help design custom crop specific solutions.”

 

“Does the Dümmen Orange take-over also mean growth? Of course, thanks to a binding decree from the mother company to their growers!” John laughs. “But seriously, I don’t think growers can ever be forced into these important decisions, and that has never been the goal. It is a fact that Dümmen wouldn’t have acquired these companies if they didn’t believe in them.” The new corporate brand doesn’t fly the orange flag either, as could be seen at GreenTech show. It is clear they are independent. The well-known colors from Grow-Tech, Quick Plug and Omni disappeared as well. “We are together now, and to show this unity, along with our ambition for the company, a new identity has been developed. We united 75 years of experience, and with the expansion in both the Netherlands and the US, we can use that to help growers around the globe improve their production. That’s what the new brand is all about.”

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