Nov 9, 2007

Ball Acquires Darwin PlantsSource: Ball

Ball Horticultural Co. has acquired the Dutch perennials company Darwin Plants, Ball announced last week.

The new partnership combines Darwin’s expertise in perennials with Ball’s capabilities in research, production, sales, marketing and customer service, giving perennial growers around the world more access to the “comprehensive, creative range of perennials and shrubs for which Darwin Plants is known,” according to a company press release.

Anna Ball, president and CEO of Ball Horticultural Co., said, “Adding Darwin Plants to our offerings means our customers benefit from specialized expertise and even more innovative products. We’re looking forward to an exciting future of providing growers with the best perennials and shrubs on the market.”

Darwin Plants co-presidents Gary Vanburen and Hans Witteman see the acquisition as a positive move for the industry. “This combines the strengths of both companies and allows Darwin Plants to focus on what we do best: keeping the market fresh by continually sourcing new perennial varieties from around the world,” Witteman says. “We see this as a fantastic opportunity to really keep the market stimulated by applying Ball Horticultural Company’s sales and marketing capabilities to our products.”

The company will continue to operate under the name Darwin Plants with its existing management and staff. As part of Ball Horticultural Co., Darwin Plants will also continue operations with its existing range of more than 1,000 perennials available as bareroot or young plants. Darwin will continue to distribute all of its products from its base in Hillegom, Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.ballhort.com.