After an 18-month delay, Schneider officially opens new building

In the Netherlands, Schneider Youngplants is officially open; after an 18-month delay. Fleuroselect's Sally van der Horst did the honors on Tuesday, June 14, and local alderman, Wendy van Ooijen-van Breugel, cut the ribbon. Wendy is a breeder herself, so she and Sally also christened the new 'Wendy' Begonia. A local orchestra provided music at the event. This occasion represents Schneider's prosperous future. 

Schneider Youngplants' previous location had to make way for an industrial area. After much searching, they picked Woudrichem in the municipality of Altena, partly due to its open attitude. A glasshouse horticultural company had been vacant for several years there. On June 4, 2020, the first pile was driven.

The new company went into production on December 1, 2020. "The new location wasn't 100% finished, but we got going right away. The greenhouse sections were delivered weekly, and we'd place the seed trays in as they arrived," says Jacob Schneider, Schneider Youngplants' owner.

Schneider specializes in propagating plants from seeds and annual, biennial, perennial, and cut flower cuttings. They supply trays with young plants to growers across Europe. The new company covers about 3.5 hectares, roughly the same area as the old one. The site also has another 1.5 hectares of land, which could be built on in the future. Inside, the entire production is done on tables. The greenhouse has different climate zones and is equipped with all the latest (cultivation) technology.

"This first year was extremely challenging. But, thanks to our team, we managed to keep the teething problems to a minimum. Now, we're 18 months down the road, and the COVID pandemic seems to be nearing its end. Construction is complete, and we're pleased to be celebrating this with our staff, partners, growers, and business associates," concludes Jacob.

The coming week will see the doors open to business partners during the 'Flowertrials,' a business event for all floricultural product breeders and propagators. A walk-in day on June 18 for friends, family, and interested parties in the area will follow