After decades of running Plantipp and its American sister company Concept Plants, the time has come for Reinier van Rijssen to hand over the baton. More than 25 years ago, Reinier created the company with the aim of representing breeders and supporting them by managing royalties, licenses and labels for new plant varieties. Plantipp grew rapidly and it didn’t take long for the children Peter and Kim to become part of this international family business with two associated sister companies.
The Plantipp team travels the world and is in direct contact with its partners in the Netherlands and abroad. This allows them to closely monitor and control the development of a new variety.
The North American branch of Netherlands-based Plantipp is Concept Plants. Concept Plants represents breeders and helps them introduce new plants to the North American market. Some of Concept Plants’ tasks are to help breeders with plant patents, trials, licensing agreements and royalty collection.
Even though Reinier hands the management over to Peter and Kim, he will continue to be involved with Plantipp.
“I know many breeders and producers with whom we have worked for decades and such a relationship must continue to exist. Whether I am part of Plantipp on paper or not!
Peter and Kim totally agree.
“I was involved in the business from a young age, but I never wanted to be one of those kids who take over the family business just because it’s part of the family. So I worked very hard to grow in the company and learn everything there is to learn, ”explains Peter.
“And now Peter has become the face of the company,” adds Kim. “Where my role is more often behind the scenes, Peter is always on the road to make new contacts, meet breeders or visit important events. And as the squad grew, Reinier had to do less and less over the years. He focused on legal issues, such as lawsuits regarding PBR. And he will continue to fight for these issues.
Editor’s Note: For more information on Concept Plants, read our profile on Peter in the March 2016 issue of Nursery management.
Other than the paperwork, the industry won’t notice too many changes for Plantipp.
“Plantipp is part of my life, which means that Plantipp and especially the people involved are inextricably linked to me,” Reiner laughs. Kim does most of the work.
