CNC Holding, one of Europe's largest suppliers of compost and casing soil for mushroom growing, is looking for a buyer. The current owners of the company in Milsbeek in the Dutch province of Limburg, a cooperative formed by practically all the mushroom growers in the Netherlands, will cease to exist after a history of 66 years.

'We are looking for proceeds of at least €100 million', says Maurice Koppen, chair of the Coöperatieve Nederlandse Champignonkwekersvereniging (CNC). This means that, after deduction of outstanding bank debts, the 103 members of the cooperative will have in the region of €60 million to distribute. Not all the members are still active as growers, but they have a financial interest in the cooperative.

Thursday, 21st November 2019, three-quarters of the members agreed to sell the four Dutch and two Polish companies that comprise CNC Holding. 'That is a business decision ', says Koppen. 'We started discussing the future of the cooperative with the members in early 2018: continue in the present structure or cash in the interests?'

Member numbers of the cooperative have been declining. What once started with more than a thousand member growers has now dwindled to little more than a hundred. 'That decline is expected to continue, resulting in just thirty to forty companies active in the Netherlands in the future. They will be on a larger scale, as the total production capacity of the sector is likely to remain more or less stable. In that scenario, the interests of individual members may start to diverge.'

Mushroom growers can invest the proceeds of the sale in growing their own businesses on the European and global markets, according to Koppen. He expects further professionalisation in the branch meaning that growers will pack their own produce more and intensify direct sales to retailers. 'I think that after a natural restructuring of the sector they can generate a healthy income.'

Potential buyers of CNC, with a turnover of approximately €90 million this year and a growing EBITDA of €16 million, could be either investment companies or industry partners. For example, compost company Walkro, which was acquired by the Irish Monaghan at the end of last year. ‘But a buyer could equally come from China or the USA," says CEO Gerrit Mastenbroek. 'These are the largest mushroom producing countries, followed by the Netherlands and Poland.'

The mushroom sector is experiencing turbulent times. The prices paid by retailers are so low that many growers are unable to survive. However, Koppen is optimistic about the sector's future. 'As a great alternative to meat, mushrooms face a bright future. They are low in calories and fat. Moreover, there are few sectors that make such an excellent fit with the circular economy as ours does.'

In 1953, the precursor of CNC was founded on the initiative of eight mushroom growers in North Limburg who wanted to produce their own raw materials. The company is by far the market leader in the Benelux region and has 332 fte. 'In theory, jobs may be lost under new ownership', says Koppen. 'But in the search for the right buyer, continuity of the company is paramount.'

In 2018, CNC Holding opened a large compost production facility in the north of Limburg, which processes more than 600,000 tons of horse manure, chicken manure and gypsum annually. This involved an investment of €22 million. The new construction was largely financed by the sale of the mushroom processing company Lutèce in 2016 to the Belgian Greenyard Group headed by entrepreneur Hein Deprez.

Contact:
CNC Holding B.V.
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December 2019

Mushroom Valley recently held its final partner meeting of 2019. The first three years have passed and it was time for an evaluation and strategy for the future.

The kick-off in the first year, The National Mushroom Day in the second year and the project “Word jij ook zo high van paddenstoelen?” at the International Mushroom Days in Den Bosch this year, have put Mushroom Valley on the map within the Dutch mushroom industry.

Execution on Branding, Education, Innovation, Network, Big data and Market gave partners the feeling of diminished focus in activities. After an intense discussion, the partners came up with a strategy for the future, taking the learning points of the last years into consideration.

Mushroom Valley will develop itself as knowledge center for the worldwide mushroom industry. The focus will be on education and realisation of the Dutch Mushroom Center at the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo.

Worldwide trends make the mushroom production grow significantly and our partners play an immense role in this. Jack Lemmen, GTL-Europe: “Because of the fast growth, there is an international demand for experts in all parts of the chain. Education is what connects all of us, so let’s focus on this.”

Mushroom Valley will take the challenge, to educate the mushroom industry, together with Mushroom Office. Mark den Ouden, Mushroom Office: “With our newly developed E-course Mushroom Signals Essentials as base and the Mushroom Signals Extended for the advanced, a more complete education for the new (international) experts will be developed. Combining this with live training and company visits in the Netherlands will create new opportunities for the supplying companies. Together with Mushroom Valley we can increase the reach to cover everyone with a need for knowledge.”

The development of the Dutch Mushroom Center will function like a magnet on the international world which we seduce to gain knowledge at the Brightlands. Through this, we strengthen and maintain our position as knowledge-country in this healthy and sustainable mushroom industry. Inventor Jan Klerken, Scelta Mushrooms: “A physical Dutch Mushroom Center is a stage on which gastronomy, education, promotion and new developments go hand in hand.”

The Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo is all about healthy food and is with the Kids University for Cooking “Kokkerelli” an ideal base to give mushrooms a stage.

Director Saskia Goetgeluk, Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo says enthusiastically: “The Dutch Mushroom Center is a wonderful development and fits well within the campus in which it is all about healthy and safe food. It does not just stimulate knowledge development, but will also give the regional network a positive impulse.”

Also deputy Hubert Mackus cheers for this development: “The mushroom is the example of healthy and sustainable food and this cluster of entrepreneurs puts emphasize on the Brightlands-idea of collaboration.”

According to mushroom quotation provided by Yunnan Guanshang Vegetable Market, on December 20, King oyster mushroom, Button mushroom, Enoki mushroom and Seafood mushroom are 4 mushroom varieties that show price rise.

1. Price of King oyster mushroom has risen from 6 to 7.5 CNY per kg, indicating 25% of increase range.

2. Price of Button mushroom has risen from 14.3 to 15.7 CNY per kg, indicating 10% of increase range.

3. Price of Enoki mushroom has risen from 8.3 to 9 CNY per kg, indicating 8% of increase range.

4. Price of Seafood mushroom has risen from 10.5 to 11.5 CNY per kg, indicating 10% of increase range.

On the contrary, by December 20, Oyster mushroom, Agrocybe cylindracea, Pleurotus nebrodensis and Pleurotus cornucopiae are 4 varieties that show price fall.

1. Price of Oyster mushroom has dropped from 7.5 to 5.8 CNY per kg, indicating 23% of decline range.

2. Price of Agrocybe cylindracea has dropped from 11.5 to 11.4 CNY per kg, indicating 1% of decline range.

3. Price of Pleurotus nebrodensis has dropped from 22.5 to 22 CNY per kg, indicating 2% of decline range.

4. Price of Pleurotus cornucopiae has dropped from 10 to 7 CNY per kg, indicating 30% of decline range.

“Price of Shiitake mushroom, White beech mushroom and Brown Shimeji mushroom is respectively at 13 CNY, 15.8 CNY and 17.5 CNY per kg. Recently, price of Enoki and King oyster mushroom shows significant growth range while price of Oyster, Pleurotus cornucopiae and Pleurotus nebrodensis evidently declines in our market,” said manager of Yunnan Guanshang Vegetable Market passionately.

According to mushroom quotation provided by Guangdong Haijixing Agricultural Products Market, on December 25, Oyster mushroom, Agrocybe cylindracea and Pleurotus geesteranus are 3 varieties that show price fall.

1. Price of Oyster mushroom has dropped from 10 to 8 CNY per kg, indicating 20% of decline range.

2. Price of Agrocybe cylindracea has dropped from 14 to 12 CNY per kg, indicating 14% of decline range.

3. Price of Pleurotus geesteranus has dropped from 20 to 16 CNY per kg, indicating 20% of decline range.

On the contrary, by December 25, Shiitake mushroom, Superior Shiitake mushroom, Straw mushroom, King oyster mushroom, Enoki mushroom, White beech mushroom and Brown Shimeji mushroom are 7 varieties that show price rise.

1. Price of Shiitake mushroom has risen from 14 to 15 CNY per kg, indicating 7% of increase range.

2. Price of Superior Shiitake mushroom has risen from 16 to 17 CNY per kg, indicating 6% of increase range.

3. Price of Straw mushroom has risen from 26 to 28 CNY per kg, indicating 8% of increase range.

4. Price of King oyster mushroom has risen from 6 to 7 CNY per kg, indicating 17% of increase range.

5. Price of Enoki mushroom has risen from 8 to 9 CNY per kg, indicating 13% of increase range.

6. Price of White beech mushroom has risen from 16.7 to 17.5 CNY per kg, indicating 5% of increase range.

7. Price of Brown Shimeji mushroom has risen from 18.3 to 20 CNY per kg, indicating 9% of increase range.

“Price of Black fungus, Button mushroom and Seafood mushroom is respectively at 5.6 CNY, 12 CNY and 10 CNY per kg. Since early December, price of mushroom is overall on the rise in our market, especially for Enoki and King oyster mushroom,” introduces manager of Guangdong Haijixing Agricultural Products Market with enthusiasm.

According to mushroom quotation provided by Gansu Lanzhou Zhangsutan Vegetable Wholesale Market, on December 14, King oyster mushroom, Enoki mushroom, Seafood mushroom, White beech mushroom, Brown Shimeji mushroom and Agrocybe cylindracea are 6 mushroom varieties that show price rise.

1. Price of King oyster mushroom has risen from 5.8 to 7 CNY per kg, indicating 21% of increase range.

2. Price of Enoki mushroom has risen from 5.5 to 7.5 CNY per kg, indicating 36% of increase range.

3. Price of Seafood mushroom has risen from 9 to 10 CNY per kg, indicating 11% of increase range.

4. Price of White beech mushroom has risen from 14.2 to 15.8 CNY per kg, indicating 11% of increase range.

5. Price of Brown Shimeji mushroom has risen from 18.3 to 20 CNY per kg, indicating 9% of increase range.

6. Price of Agrocybe cylindracea has risen from 14 to 16 CNY per kg, indicating 14% of increase range.

On the contrary, by December 14, Oyster mushroom, Yellow Enoki mushroom and Button mushroom are 3 varieties that show price fall.

1. Price of Oyster mushroom has dropped from 8 to 7 CNY per kg, indicating 13% of decline range.

2. Price of Yellow Enoki mushroom has dropped from 16 to 8 CNY per kg, indicating 50% of decline range.

3. Price of Button mushroom has dropped from 14.3 to 10 CNY per kg, indicating 30% of decline range.

On December 10, in mushroom workshop operated by Hubei Jiaguxiang Agricultural Co., LTD, Shiitake mushrooms are revealing satisfactory growth tendency, growers are engaged with routine management work.

Located in Hong’an County, Huanggang City of Hubei Province, Hubei Jiaguxiang Agricultural Co., LTD was founded in 2015. Over the years, relying on local good opportunity, Jiaguxiang Company constantly strengthens its input. In November, it established a production line that annually outputs 1 million mushroom sticks.

By now, there are 3 factories engaging in stick production of Shiitake mushroom, annual output totals 2.2 million sticks. And, in Hong’an County, 9 villages and towns are in establishment of Shiitake mushroom base, after the formal operation, the estimated output value could hit 30 million CNY while 1100 poor households are expected to increase earnings and go rich.