Family business proudly reflects on rich history and continues building an international future.
MAASDIJK – Beekenkamp Group celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. What began in 1951 as a small-scale vegetable plant nursery on 1.3 hectares in Maasdijk has grown into an international enterprise with more than 95 hectares of greenhouses, over 2,900 employees and an annual production of more than 2 billion young plants, divided among Beekenkamp Vegetables, Beekenkamp Ornamentals, Beekenkamp Verpakkingen and Deliflor Chrysanten.
The anniversary will be celebrated during the Flower Trials in June, with a large event for employees in October, and with various other activities. In addition, a special anniversary emblem will be visible this year at all locations, on all trucks, and in all communications to mark this milestone.
The family story of Beekenkamp Group began in 1951 with founder Govert Beekenkamp. His vision and entrepreneurship laid the foundation for a versatile and innovative company within global horticulture. Commitment, reliability and innovation have been central from the very beginning and remain the core values of the family business. Resilience and a determined mentality form the basis of what the company is today: a leading international player with activities in more than 45 countries and branches in Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Asia.
An Beekenkamp, co-owner: “This anniversary is a tribute to our employees and to our loyal customers. Our people are the heart of the company; their craftsmanship and commitment have brought us to where we are today. Equally important are the customers who have placed their trust in us for many years and with whom we continue to grow and innovate. We celebrate 75 years of history, but above all the people and relationships that make us stronger every day.”
From the 1980s onwards, the company began a strong growth acceleration with the acquisition of Lyraflor, the establishment of Beekenkamp Verpakkingen, and the expansion of cutting production to countries including Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. Thanks to several strategic acquisitions – including Leen de Mos Tropica, Fred Blokker, Novaplant, Deltastek, Brabantstek and Florema – Beekenkamp further developed into a major market player in young plants. In 2000, Govert handed the company over to his daughters An and Margriet.
Under the leadership of An Beekenkamp, Marc Driessen, Peter Zaat and Fons van der Vleuten, major steps have once again been taken in recent years. The opening of the Research & Development Center in Maasdijk, new production locations in Kenya, Colombia and Japan, a state-of-the-art rooting facility in Nieuwaal and the newly built vegetable greenhouse in Maasdijk all demonstrate the organisation’s ongoing commitment to global innovation.
Beekenkamp Group proudly reflects on 75 years of entrepreneurship and confidently looks ahead to the future, with the mission to deliver young plants from its own genetics and sustainable solutions for the global horticultural sector.