Since this spring, Prominent's tomato growers are, besides being members of their cooperative, also shareholders in the cooperative. As a result, the individual entrepreneurs at Prominent benefit not only from mutual knowledge sharing, joint purchasing and packaging, but also from the developments at Prominent as a company. The members of the Prominent producer organization are all also members of the DOOR cooperative. This organization is responsible for the sales and marketing of the product.
Jack Groenewegen, chairman Prominent Group cooperative and chairman DOOR cooperative
The Prominent Group cooperative is, thanks to the new share structure within a cooperative structure, ready for the future. The 29 entrepreneurs together currently grow 13 varieties of tomatoes on a greenhouse acreage of approximately 420 hectares. In addition, the growers developed a joint cultivation location of 25 hectares, spread across three locations. This cultivation company is used for, among other things, innovations and knowledge development. Since 1999, Prominent also has a joint packaging company for tomatoes. “In order for Prominent to be a leader in 2030 as well, the companies of the individual members must continue to grow and continue to professionalize further. We must focus fully on innovation and making production more sustainable. By building up the Prominent company, you make the organization even stronger,” according to Jack Groenewegen, chairman of the Prominent Group cooperative.
Accessible share structure
It is easy to participate in the share structure and every member of the cooperative decides for themselves whether they want shares or not. This also applies to new members. At the start of this structure, the existing 29 members unanimously chose to join the Prominent Group cooperative and thus become co-owners. For Prominent and for the members, the advantages of this construction are: the even greater involvement among themselves and with Prominent, because the growers are co-owners and gain clear insight into the value that Prominent represents for the individual member. In the event of an increase in value, a member also benefits from the increase in value via the share value.
Chairman Groenewegen indicates that because of the careful process that has taken place, the board is confident that joint ventures within the Prominent Group cooperative will not be at the expense of mutual cooperation and the great mutual trust that members have built up with each other. "It is precisely this trust that is and remains the basis of Prominent's success and provides added value for the individual companies of its members."
For more information:
Prominent
www.prominent-tomatoes.nl
info@prominent-tomatoes.nl