Expansion of product portfolio with flakes and granules

CEO Avebe, David Fousert: “With Solan, we accelerate access to knowledge and experience in processing potatoes into flakes and granules and commercialise them. We can expand our product portfolio and it will contribute to Avebe’s growth.”

Strategy Accelerate and Strengthen

Avebe’s decision to enter the flakes and granules market is in line with its strategy Accelerate and Strengthen. “We therefore welcome the proven technology, existing customers and experienced team of Solan to Avebe with great enthusiasm,” said Fousert.

Diversification product portfolio

Flake potatoes have gained ground in the potato market in recent years. By adding flakes and granules to its product portfolio, Avebe is fulfilling a growing global demand from its customers for a broader and more integrated potato-based range. The trusted name will continue as the brand SOLAN^® within the Avebe portfolio. Fousert: “Customers can rely on one integrated supplier and will have access to a more complete portfolio of potato solutions. Of course, with the quality, service and support from Avebe as they are used to. Moreover, this acquisition offers – with our technical expertise and global network – opportunities to further innovate within a more complete range of potato products.”

Leading regional employer

Solan has a production site in Głowno, Poland. There are two production lines: a line for flakes and a granules line. With over 100 employees, Solan is a leading regional employer. With the acquisition, Avebe is 100% owner of Solan.

Further develop potato crop

Solan works closely with some 140 arable farmers and has a regional network for its raw material supply. Avebe sees good opportunities to further develop potato cultivation in the region. Among others for breeding company Averis, 100% subsidiary of Avebe, there is potential with the variety package.

Tomasz Lorenz from Solan (left) and David Fousert from Avebe.

In het boekjaar 2024/2025 investeerde Avebe in totaal 60 miljoen euro. De nadruk van deze investeringen lag op het efficiënter en duurzamer inrichten van de productieprocessen, preventief onderhoud en digitalisering. Fousert: “Een mooi voorbeeld is de installatie van nieuwe decanters in Gasselternijveen, waarmee we een flinke waterbesparing realiseren.” Duurzaamheid blijft onderdeel van het fundament van de strategie van Avebe. Voor 2030 zijn ambitieuze doelen gesteld: een CO2-reductie van 30% (scope 1 en 3), 1,5% energie-efficiëntieverbetering per jaar en een forse verlaging van wateronttrekking. Avebe rapporteert over haar duurzaamheidsdoelen in lijn met de aankomende Europese CSRD-vereisten.

Fousert stond nadrukkelijk stil bij de huidige marktsituatie: door een groter areaal, een vroege oogst en hoge opbrengsten is het aanbod aan zetmeelaardappelen in Europa dit seizoen fors toegenomen. Fousert: “Tegelijkertijd blijven de kostprijs en risico’s voor de aardappelteelt stijgen, en zien we wereldwijd toenemende onzekerheid en geopolitieke spanningen. Om de teelt aantrekkelijk te houden voor onze leden, zal het saldo moeten meegroeien met deze ontwikkelingen.” Volgens de CEO blijft wendbaarheid en ondernemerschap essentieel om in te spelen op veranderende marktomstandigheden en duurzame groei te realiseren.

Born in 1993, Iris Bouwers runs a mixed farm together with her parents in Zuidwolde, where she also cultivates starch potatoes for Avebe. She has extensive governance experience, including serving as a councillor for the municipality of De Wolden and as a member of the supervisory board of Agrifirm. From 2019 to 2023, Iris was part of Avebe’s Social Advisory Council.

Marijke Folkers-in ’t Hout, chair of the supervisory board, said: “Iris brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the supervisory board. Her background as co-owner of an agricultural family business, combined with her supervisory expertise, makes her a valuable addition. We look forward to working with her enthusiastic and committed approach.”

Supervisory board
The supervisory board of Avebe consists of the following nine members: Marijke Folkers-in ’t Hout (Chair), Hans-Wilhelm Giere, Angelique Heckman, Martin Möllering, Robert Smith, Nanne Sterenborg, Hidde van der Wal, Marcel Mensink and Iris Bouwers.

The factory in Gasselternijveen was the first to start processing. The location in Ter Apelkanaal will follow next week, as will the German factories in Dallmin and Lüchow.

Planting conditions and the growing season were generally favourable this year. The crops are therefore looking good.

Expansion of product portfolio with flakes and granules 

CEO Avebe, David Fousert: “With Solan, we accelerate access to knowledge and experience in processing potatoes into flakes and granules and commercialise them. We can expand our product portfolio and it will contribute to Avebe’s growth.” 

Strategy Accelerate and Strengthen 

Avebe’s decision to enter the flakes and granules market is in line with its strategy Accelerate and Strengthen. “We therefore welcome the proven technology, existing customers and experienced team of Solan to Avebe with great enthusiasm,” said Fousert. 

Diversification product portfolio 

Flake potatoes have gained ground in the potato market in recent years. By adding flakes and granules to its product portfolio, Avebe is fulfilling a growing global demand from its customers for a broader and more integrated potato-based range. The trusted name will continue as the brand SOLAN^® within the Avebe portfolio. Fousert: “Customers can rely on one integrated supplier and will have access to a more complete portfolio of potato solutions. Of course, with the quality, service and support from Avebe as they are used to. Moreover, this acquisition offers – with our technical expertise and global network – opportunities to further innovate within a more complete range of potato products.” 

Leading regional employer 

Solan has a production site in Głowno, Poland. There are two production lines: a line for flakes and a granules line. With over 100 employees, Solan is a leading regional employer. With the acquisition, Avebe is 100% owner of Solan.    

Further develop potato crop 

Solan works closely with some 140 arable farmers and has a regional network for its raw material supply. Avebe sees good opportunities to further develop potato cultivation in the region. Among others for breeding company Averis, 100% subsidiary of Avebe, there is potential with the variety package. 

In the 2024 growing season, the base price for A-volume was 105 euros per ton, with the final campaign price reaching 115 euros per ton. This year, the base price has been set at 110 euros per ton of potatoes with 19% starch content, including a member premium of 5 euros per ton. The final campaign price will be announced by Avebe after the potato campaign concludes in May 2026. 

David Fousert, CEO of Royal Avebe, stated: “Despite many uncertainties in the world, we have managed to continue the upward trend in the base price. Examples of these uncertainties include global geopolitical tensions, fluctuations in the euro/dollar exchange rate, and the import tariffs in the United States. While we have little control over many of these developments, they do impact Avebe. Thanks to our strategy Accelerate and Strengthen, we are more agile and resilient. This enables us to set a higher base price even under these challenging circumstances.” 

Progress on strategy Accelerate and Strengthen
On Tuesday, 1 July, the Avebe Members’ Council was updated on the progress of the strategy Accelerate and Strengthen during its council meeting. The cooperative is making clear progress. Distinctive value is being created with Avebe’s products, with the customer at the heart of these efforts. 

There are several promising developments in new applications of Avebe’s product portfolio. Additionally, the Avebe acreage for starch potatoes has grown slightly. As anticipated in this strategic period, this growth is primarily taking place in Germany. 

Field conditions
Starch potato crops have shown strong growth in recent weeks, partly due to the early spring. In both the Netherlands and Germany, crops are currently about 10 days ahead of the average growing season. Avebe is tracking crop growth and development through regular harvest sampling. 

Price development matches ambition to strengthen member perspective

Royal Avebe has now processed all potatoes from the 2024 campaign. The cooperative ends the growing year positively with a higher processing volume than originally planned. The base price for the A-volume of €105 per tonne of potatoes (including €5 members’ bonus) is increased by €10 per tonne. This will bring the campaign price to €115 per tonne of potatoes. The additional payment of €10 per tonne will be distributed to members in early June 2025.

Higher payout price due to performance components

Besides the campaign price, growers receive performance components such as premiums for starch content, delivery time, quality and full A-volume delivery. A comparison of the ex-farm payout price shows that it is about 20% higher than last year.

Growth in line with ambition

Recent years show a clear increase in both the base price and the campaign price. In crop year 2020, the campaign price was still €72.50 per tonne, while in 2024 it rose to €115 per tonne. This development reflects Avebe’s commitment to increase its members’ earning power.

Distribution of cooperative result in December

A distribution from the cooperative result will follow after the annual meeting with the members’ council on 9 December 2025. This depends on Avebe’s financial year-end result on 31 July 2025.

Outlook campaign 2025

The planting season got off to an early start this year. Almost all potatoes have been planted in both the Netherlands and Germany, some two to three weeks earlier than last year. There is more interest in starch potatoes in the cropping plan than last year. This increase underlines Avebe’s steady growth and fits well with its ambition to expand further in the market.

With the strategy Accelerate and Strengthen, the cooperative focuses on strengthening its market position and increasing the distinctive, added value of potato starch and potato protein. In doing so, Avebe works in a targeted way to accelerate the earning capacity of its members.

Saskia de Groot has extensive experience as HR director and held this position at several companies, including GoodLife Foods, Nature’s Pride and Royal A-ware. De Groot will work on effectively and efficiently positioning HR within the organisation. In doing so, she will continue to build a safe, pleasant and inspiring working environment.

Board chairman David Fousert: “We are very pleased that Saskia has joined Avebe. With her extensive HR experience, she will be of added value to Avebe. I look forward to working with her to achieve Avebe’s strategic goals as one team.”

As CHRO, De Groot joins Avebe’s Executive Committee. In addition to De Groot, it consists of:

David Fousert, CEO
Rob van Laerhoven, CFO
Chris Hollebek, CCO
Klaas Hidde Kuipers, COO
Marleen de Rond-Schouten, managing director Agro

Over the past few days, the last potatoes have been processed at the Ter Apelkanaal factory. This brought an end to Royal Avebe’s 2024-2025 potato campaign. On schedule, processing at the Gasselternijveen site and the German production sites Dallmin and Lüchow stopped in early February. Besides starch potatoes, potatoes from other markets, such as french fries and flake potatoes, have also been processed in Ter Apelkanaal in recent weeks.

For the Dutch locations, the starch content comes out to an average of 20.4 per cent. The average tare percentage – the soil that comes with the potatoes from the land to the factory – is 4.7 per cent over the last campaign. Avebe will announce the campaign price at the end of May.

Wet spring and short growing season

For growers, 2024 was the second wet spring in a row. This caused large regional differences in emergence and growth. From May onwards, weather conditions improved for growth. In many places, disease pressure then also increased, especially phytophthora. Despite the challenges and the short growing season, the 2024-2025 growing year will go down in the books as a year with comparatively good yields.

Planting season started

Avebe’s farmer members have now started the new crop year which started early this year. Spring work in the fields is currently running smoothly. On the production sites, the intercampaign has started, during which maintenance work in the factories takes place. Avebe also has factories that are operational throughout the year, as are sales of potato starch and potato protein that continue throughout the year.