Vilmorin acquires Indian vegetable seed company Century Seeds

Vilmorin has just acquired the company Century Seeds, based in Delhi, India. This privately held company, specialized in vegetable seeds, owns a wide range of varieties derived from their high quality breeding programs in more than ten species, including cauliflower, pepper, cabbage, tomato and other vegetables mainly consumed in Asia. Its extensive production and sales networks, particularly in the northern part of India, constitute key assets.

Century Seeds and its headcount of almost 90 people, all of whom are included in the acquisition, will join the HM. Clause Business Unit and locally, its subsidiary Clause India, based in Hyderabad (state of Andhra Pradesh).

This operation considerably strengthens the vegetable seeds division presence in India, a market which is growing fast, and eventually moving into 2nd position in Asia, after China. It will immediately double the size of the new entity, representing almost 5% of the vegetable seeds market, with sales close to 8 million Euros. Local breeding will be intensified through this operation, creating new development perspectives in India and more generally in Asia.