Looye Kwekers Holding is allowed to takeover RedStar Holding. This decision was made by the Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) on August 21, 2018. After the takeover, enough competition will remain, the authority judges.
At the beginning of July both family companies announced the merger of their companies. Because of the merger, Looye will quickly grow into the biggest player in the Netherlands with an area of around 150 hectares. The two companies have been focusing on cherry tomatoes for a long time and are looking at a combined turnover of 180 million euros.
RedStar is the company of the Van der Kaaij family. With an acreage of 90 hectares, operations in the Netherlands and a participation in UK company Thanet Earth, the company is one of the biggest players in the Dutch tomato field. Among their brands are the RedStar Romantic, Vanity, Passion, Tropical, Safari and Sublime.
Looye Kwekers are known for their Honingtomaten (Honey tomatoes), being one of the first and highest valued premium brands in the Dutch and German fresh industry. The company has grown to an acreage of 39 hectares in the Netherlands. Looye Kwekers specializes in cherry and vine tomatoes. With the brands 'Honey tomatoes' and 'Joyn' it has a special position in the market.