PHOTOS: MARTIJN STEINER LOVISA
INTERVIEW ▶▶▶ Thijs Hendrix
‘Funding consolidation and growth’
Earlier this year Hendrix Genetics and investor Paine Schwartz Partners announced the completion of Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund V’s strategic investment in Hendrix. The transaction will enable Hendrix to continue investing across its breeding programmes, enhance its technology and data capabilities, grow its global customer base and expand into new markets. Time for Poultry World to sit down with the president and chairman of Hendrix Genetics’ supervisory board, Thijs Hendrix.
BY FABIAN BROCKÖTTER F
rom its humble beginnings on a small mixed farm in the south of the Netherlands early in the last century, Hendrix Genetics has developed into a truly leading international player in the field of animal species used for commercial
breeding purposes. It now operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 3,500 people worldwide. The company’s areas of expertise include laying hens and eggs, turkey breeding, pig breeding, aquaculture and insect breeding. President Thijs Hen- drix has seen the world of animal genetics change from local to global, continued the work of his father and grandfather and fol- lowed – or rather instigated – the trend. Much has changed over the years. Hendrix Genetics became part of Nutreco and in 2005 separated again. Investors came and went, but despite all of this it has remained a family run and owned business. Something that didn’t change with the most recent development when Paine Schwartz Partners, a global leader in sustainable food chain in- vestment, announced the completion of its Food Chain Fund V’s strategic investment in Hendrix Genetics. Paine Schwartz and its affiliated co-investors, including Mitsui & Co. and Rabo Invest- ments, now hold a 50% stake in the company with Hendrix Genet- ics’ co-founders, Thijs Hendrix and Antoon van den Berg, holding the remaining 50% of the company. “With the completion of this investment we are beginning Hendrix Genetics’ next phase of
growth and success,” says Thijs Hendrix. He continues: “The Food Chain Fund V focuses on animal genetics and is a perfect match. It gives us the opportunity to advance the trend. We want to ‘step on the accelerator pedal’ and grow as a company, consolidate with in- dustry partners and invest more in research and development.”
What new areas are you hoping to expand into? We have a strong position in animal breeding. We want to use that position to grow our market share in swine, traditional poul- try and aquaculture. In the last five years we have strengthened our position in North and South America. In the coming years we will focus on the rest of the world, with an extra focus on Asia/ China and Africa for further growth. Our current consortium also includes the China Investment Corporation. With that we expect doors to open for us in the Chinese market.”
Will genetics and breeding still be your core business? Yes. Our vision and strategy is to set the standard for sustainable animal breeding. That vision clearly reflects that genetics and breeding will remain the core of our business. Our mission is to support the global food challenge with high quality animal ge- netics. With the world’s population expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, we need to find a common strategy on how to feed this growing population. With our mission to support the global food challenge with high quality animal genetics, we believe we can
▶ POULTRY WORLD | No. 6, 2022 7
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