"We had no idea what we were getting into (and honestly, I'm glad we didn't), but we knew one thing for sure: the world needed a better food system, and we were going to help build it," Laura van de Kreeke, grower at Growy, shares.
Six years ago, Laura van de Kreeke and Ard embarked on a journey with nothing but a vision, a few plants, and an unwavering determination. Today, Growy celebrates its sixth anniversary, marking a remarkable evolution from a small vertical farming experiment to a large-scale, automated facility delivering fresh, healthy, and affordable food.
© Growy
From small beginnings to large-scale operations
From its humble beginnings, Growy has continued to grow in the vertical farming sector. "We started with a tiny vertical farm that expanded and developed into the first version of our automated farm," she recalls. That small-scale setup eventually grew into a facility capable of producing its first commercial batches of lettuce—an achievement solidified when Growy's lettuce bags made their way onto supermarket shelves.
The expansion was not limited to one region. "From an almost empty farm in Singapore to a large-scale operational vertical farm, our journey has been full of milestones," she says.
This growth, however, was never a solo endeavor. "Over the years, more than 100 Growy farmers, past and present, have poured their hearts and expertise into this journey. To every farmer who has helped shape Growy over the past years, thank you. This would never have been possible without you."
Recent developments
The company has also recently launched their first own-lable produce in Dutch supermarkets and wants to build their presence nationwide.
Their partnership with 25:2 Solutions to develop Growy seed varieties also gives them more control of their value chain. "We are excited to exclusively work with Growy to develop crops from our global seedbank that are optimized for their amazing system. We believe Growy is the answer to providing the world with affordable, clean food grown locally. Ard and his team are great people and incredible farmers, which makes the future for everyone bright," says Eric, CEO at 25:2 Solutions.
Facing industry challenges head-on
Despite the industry's turbulence—including financial challenges and waves of skepticism—Growy remains committed to its mission. "We've all seen the setbacks, the skepticism, the challenges, and the waves of bankruptcies that have shaken the industry. But one thing we will never lose is hope."
"Here's to the next years, to growing even bigger, and to proving that a better food system isn't just possible, it's happening," Laura concludes.
For more information:
Growy
Tel: 0628976519
laura@growy.nl
www.growy.nl