Confidence for the long term
After a season in which nearly every record was broken, the global potato sector came under significant pressure in 2025-2026. Prices for ware potatoes fell to historically low levels across almost all markets, affecting acreage in key potato-growing regions. These developments also had an impact on the seed potato sector.
It was precisely during this challenging season that the strength of the Royal HZPC Group really shone through. Supported by our global teams, strong relationships with customers and growers, a balanced presence across market segments, and a strong portfolio of varieties, we closed the year with positive results. The season also reinforced the importance of continuing to invest in the future. Seeing the strategic choices made over recent years deliver value, particularly in difficult market conditions, strengthens our confidence in the long term.
It was encouraging to see that the new varieties also reinforce this growth potential.
Where our strength lies
An important factor is the relationship with customers and growers. Our teams across Europe stay close to the market and work in close partnership with our network of growers. In key seed potato-producing countries such as the Netherlands, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and Finland, our teams further strengthened their market positions. Exports to Southern Europe, Africa and Asia played an essential role in this success.
Outside of Europe, we have a strong presence in key potato markets through compact local teams. The volume of seed potatoes continued to grow there, particularly through licensed cultivation in the United States and India.
The strength of our variety portfolio played an important role in this performance. Colomba continues to expand its global presence as the leading table potato variety. Innovator and Santana remain essential varieties for the French fry industry, while VR-808 and SHC-1010 continue to gain ground in the potato chip segment. It was encouraging to see that our newer varieties are also strengthening this growth momentum. Strong examples include the French fry varieties Quintera, Travolta and Castor, the potato chip variety Norman, table potato varieties such as Libra and Brianna, and traditional market varieties including Rashida and Tyson.
In this environment, Royal HZPC Group stands unconditionally shoulder to shoulder with our growers and customers.
Raising the bar
Over the past decades, we have made deliberate and substantial investments in research and breeding. From the outset, we set ambitious goals. The result is a portfolio of varieties with stronger disease resistance, improved nitrogen efficiency and greater resilience under dry growing conditions.
These advances align closely with evolving market expectations and the challenges growers face every day. Climate change, shortages of production inputs, and changing laws and regulations call for increasingly resilient varieties. At the same time the ongoing discussions around Natura 2000 zoning are creating additional uncertainty across the sector. In this regard, Royal HZPC Group stands shoulder to shoulder with our growers and customers.
Responsible growth
Across the world, pressure on the use of crop protection products continues to increase, while fertilisers are becoming more expensive or less readily available. At the same time, demand for responsibly produced food is rising, driven by a growing global population.
Our investments in research are delivering results through varieties that achieve strong performance with fewer inputs. We are also advancing Integrated Crop Management (ICM), combining agronomic expertise with crop support measures to help future-proof seed potato production.
In doing so, we support not only our own growers, but potato farmers around the world. High quality seed potatoes are the foundation of a successful potato crop. The expertise and quality of the Dutch seed potato sector enable growers in Africa, the Middle East, Southern Europe and many other regions to achieve good yields and contribute to local food security.
With IPM Potato Group, we have added a third brand and organisation to accelerate our growth.
Investing in the future
Even in a challenging market, we continue to invest in the future. In February 2026, we completed the acquisition of IPM Potato Group, strengthening our position in several key markets. Within Royal HZPC Group, both HZPC and STET have continued to thrive. With IPM Potato Group, we have added a third brand and organisation, creating new opportunities to accelerate our growth and expand our global impact.
As a result of exceptionally challenging market conditions, IPM’s contribution this year fell short of expectations established at the beginning of the financial year. While the short-term performance has been affected by these martket conditions, management remains confident that IPM will be a valuable addition to the Group over the long term.
Alongside IPM, we continued to invest heavily in the implementation of NetSuite, our new ERP system. This transformation requires significant commitment across the organisation. Thanks to the dedication of our colleagues, the system is now operational in Germany, Poland and at STET Holland. With this milestone achieved, we are well positioned to take the next steps at HZPC Holland, HZPC France and HZPC UK.
Both are important building blocks for the future of the seed potato sector and Royal HZPC Group.
Building the future together
Finally, important progress was made in the areas of hybrid breeding and minituber production. Both are important building blocks for the future of the seed potato sector and Royal HZPC Group.
The strength of Royal HZPC Group lies in the combination of leading market positions, a broad portfolio of varieties, a global presence supported by local teams with deep market knowledge, and the long-term investments we continue to make in research and breeding. A challenging year like this highlights just how important that foundation is. Together with our employees, growers, customers and partners, we will continue to build a strong and future-ready potato sector that contributes to feeding a growing world population in a responsible way.
Hans Huistra
