Rescue plan for René Nicolaï Tree Nursery approved

Belgian tree nursery René Nicolaï can continue operating with the support of Dutch tree nurseries Verbeek and the Van Ingen group. The Belgian company ran into financial difficulties at the beginning of this year and was facing bankruptcy. In March, the Hasselt Commercial Court offered René Nicolaï Tree Nursery protection from creditors so that a reorganisation plan could be drawn up to enable it to make a fresh start. The Hasselt Commercial Court recently approved the reorganisation plan drawn up by Verbeek and Van Ingen. Both companies are now providing René Nicolaï Tree Nursery with a substantial financial injection and are also optimising its business processes. The aim is to make the company profitable again by 2030.

‘We have not been idle in the meantime: given the precarious financial situation, we first granted a substantial loan so that we could start building a successful long-term story. We have made agreements with the creditors, we have put the administration and accounting back on track and made the nursery more efficient and cost-effective,’ explains Adrie Verbeek of Verbeek Boomkwekerijen.

New concept varieties

René Nicolaï Tree Nursery has been in existence for over 100 years and has built up an extensive international network in the world of new fruit varieties over the past decades. For various international variety owners, René Nicolaï Nursery is the European partner for the introduction, management and cultivation of trees of new apple, pear and cherry varieties. Examples include Magic Star, Red Modoc, Fred, Cosmic Crisp and the recently introduced apple brand Goodness Me.

The extensive international customer base, access to concept varieties and international reputation are important factors for both Dutch companies that contributed to the decision to assist René Nicolaï Nursery.

Photo from left to right: Florent Geerdens (René Nicolaï Tree Nursery), Adrie Verbeek (Verbeek Tree Nurseries) and Jan van Ingen (Van Ingen Group)