Aug 16, 2016

Major Acquisitions in Hydroponics Market

Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. continues to make big moves in the hydroponics market. The company recently announced it spent $136 million to purchase Gavita Holland BV, a Dutch maker of hydroponics gardening lights. This comes just one year after Scotts spent $130 million on General Hydroponics.

Scotts subsidiary Hawthorne Gardening Co. spent the money to acquire a 75 percent stake in Gavita, which claims $100 million in annual sales.

Hawthorne also signed an agreement earlier this month to purchase Botanicare, an Arizona-based manufacturer of plant nutrients and growing systems for hydroponic gardening. The purchase price has not yet been disclosed.

Scotts expects annual sales for Hawthorne to reach an optimistic $250 million once acquisitions are final.

So what will be Scotts next big move? According to CEO Jim Hagedorn, once the current deals close, the company will move away from significant mergers and acquisitions.

— Jasmina

Urban Seed Brings Vertical Farming to Desert

Urban Seed, a sustainable indoor-farming company, broke ground July 29 in Las Vegas with the goal of providing high-quality hydroponic produce in the desert and beyond. The company will utilize vertical integration to reduce the carbon footprint of Las Vegas’ culinary community. It will use proprietary technology to create non-GMO and pesticide-free produce. Plans are also in place to design and build more than 100 additional facilities in the next five years.

NYC’s Union Square Hyatt Opens “Project Farmhouse”

GrowNYC, the nonprofit behind the Union Square Greenmarket, plants to open a new community space to host events and classes on sustainability and nutrition. The space, called “Project Farmhouse,” is expected to open by November with a test kitchen, a conference room and a vertical grow wall with moving trays designed to rotate plants so they receive the ideal amount of water, fertilizer and light. Construction has already started, with the final space measuring 3,500 square feet.

CropKing Seeks Commercial Sales Representative

CropKing, a commercial greenhouse and hydroponic system manufacturer and supplier based in Lodi, Ohio, has a job opening for a commercial sales representative. The applicant should: be highly motivated, have excellent communication skills, have a background in horticulture with a passion for the greenhouse and hydroponic growing industry, and at minimum have a bachelors degree in horticulture or five years experience. The position is primarily an inside sales position but does require occasional travel. To apply or for more information, email cropking@cropking.com.