Elsoms announces a new venture serving sweetcorn growers across Europe

Date:09-06-2023

Elsoms (Spalding, UK), the UK’s leading independent seed specialist and plant breeder, has announced the formation of a new partnership with Crookham Company (Caldwell, USA). Headquartered in Germany the new business, which will operate under the Elsoms name, will manage the Crookham and Snowy River (Victoria, Australia) sweetcorn varieties across Europe. Each of the companies involved is a well-established, independent, family-owned plant breeding and seed producing company with an enviable reputation across the continent. The formation of the new business will cement long-standing relationships and reflects ongoing commitment to European customers.

From left to right: Roger Keeling, Chairman of Elsoms with Elsoms’ international team, Lars Andersen, Marketing Director, Hildegard Jacobi, Production Manager and Martin Reisige, Managing Director

″I believe both of the parties involved in establishing the new business would agree this is a venture built on shared values and mutual respect,″ said Roger Keeling, Chairman of Elsoms. ″Elsoms has a successful track record of working with like-minded companies across Europe and we’re looking forward to forging closer business relationships with Crookham and Snowy River. It’s exciting to work with other experts in this way and, with such a great sweetcorn portfolio, to deliver for growers and processors in this key European market.″

Elsoms has a long history of achievement in the UK and is widely recognised for its expertise in the vegetable and agricultural markets, and in seed technology. Elsoms experienced European sales and technical team will focus exclusively on the sweetcorn sector, bringing their trusted, customer-centric approach to the new enterprise. Other vegetable exports will continue to be expertly handled by Elsoms team in the UK.

Crookham Company, brings both the Snowy River Seeds and Crookham Company globally renowned sweetcorn breeding programmes; the new company is expected to bring an enhanced understanding of EU growers’ needs. Elsoms has been working in partnership with Crookham Company and Snowy River Seeds for the last five years to bring the benefits of the portfolios to growers in the UK, steadily increasing sales of these excellent varieties.

″The negotiations involved in establishing the new relationship has given us all confidence in our choice of partners and enhanced our respect for one another’s knowledge and professionalism,″ said George Crookham, CEO of Crookham and Snowy River Seeds ″We’re committed to making this venture a great success. Growers can expect a seamless transition, the same great service they’ve always had from each company, and, over the medium term, new varieties uniquely tailored to the EU market.″