We also owe a lot to Rob de Vries, CFO and in the board since 1980, for keeping our organization up with our dynamic growth. He and Kees Bleeker, CEO, lead the company now and I am quite confident that we apply the best practices in the industry. The worldwide situation in the seed business might change considerably in the near future. Chances are, that only a few specialized firms will remain big players. We are on top of things.

I keep on saying "we", though I retired last March. In 2004 we shall celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the family business. We have come a long way. Grass seed still is our core-business, but we have successfully managed to turn the company from production-oriented to market-oriented.

After almost 100 years we still feel comfortable with our identity:
Barenbrug, Great in Grass.