The days when tomato grower Kevin Pittoors would wake up at night, log in, and spend fifteen minutes tweaking greenhouse settings are over. Still, his passion for perfecting tomato cultivation remains as intense as ever. Belgian newspaper De Tijd visited Primato in Putte, where Kevin talked about his craft, new technologies, and the company's ongoing expansion. Primato is doubling its area with a brand-new 11.7-hectare greenhouse, scheduled for planting in January 2026 at the De Plassen site.
In the interview, Kevin explains: "I spent weeks choosing the very best glass. The suppliers went crazy with all my questions. We ended up selecting glass with the highest possible light transmission, the same type used in solar panels. On top of that, we're using extra slim steel profiles for the greenhouse structure. It costs more, but it lets in even more light. Sunlight is free, and in the end, it's what drives growth and production. We may be a bit obsessive, but in this business, details make the difference."
According to De Tijd, several tomato growers are currently expanding with the help of investment funds. Primato, however, is not following that route. Pittoors continues to grow independently. Last year, the company achieved a turnover of €20 million and a net profit of €5.5 million, though part of that was due to one-off income. Kevin expects profits to be "significantly lower" in the coming years, yet still "healthily profitable."
He also points out that not every grower is in the same position. Some are struggling, especially as the grower population is aging. In many cases, there is no successor willing to take over. Others are working with outdated greenhouses and are reluctant to invest in modern facilities. Kevin, on the other hand, clearly has the ambition to keep moving forward, as De Tijd highlights in its profile (link in Dutch).
