Frontpage News

Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S expands the business with a new strategic leg

by

Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S expands the business with a new strategic leg within certified seed potatoes for export.

The expansion builds on our many years of experience in the production of quality potatoes and on existing facilities with high requirements for documentation, traceability and hygiene. Production has started and will be gradually expanded in the coming years.

As part of the strategy, we have strengthened the organization by expanding our Agro department with three strong profiles. In addition, we have partnered with experienced international partners in variety development and marketing.

By strengthening the cultivation of certified seed potatoes, we are building on our core business and our focus on stable deliveries and proven quality.

by

In December, Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S conducted a professional grower trip to the Netherlands together with our partners in seed potato production. The trip was part of our long-term growth strategy and focused on the development, quality and export of seed potatoes to both domestic and international markets.

The program included visits to a Dutch seed potato grower as well as STET and HZPC, where participants gained insight into the extensive breeding work behind future potato varieties. In addition, the entire value chain was highlighted through visits to a grading center, a quality assurance center and the export inspection of potatoes to third countries.

The grower tour provided valuable professional knowledge, strengthened relationships across partners and emphasized the importance of close collaboration in the development of a competitive and future-proof seed potato production.

by

At the beginning of May, TCK started the project to replace the roof of the 2009 warehouse. Thanks to the good weather and a strong effort from our craftsmen, the work was completed on schedule and with a result we are proud to showcase.

On Friday, September 5, the annual general meeting was held, where a new external board member Steen Bitsch was elected. Steen will replace Johan Winther Rasmussen. We thank Johan for his efforts and welcome Steen to Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S, where we look forward to working together.

During the AGM, our shareholders had the opportunity to see the results of the roof replacement up close, as an important milestone in the company’s history was held in the 2009 warehouse. The company’s founder and former CEO Erik Bech Thorsen had been invited to his farewell reception. He was honored by both former and current chairman of the board, as well as our business partner from Germany, who all highlighted his great contribution to Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S’ development. Erik concluded with a personal speech in which he expressed his hope that the company will continue to stand strong on the values that have always characterized us, including credibility as a central foundation.

With a solid foundation in both strong values and modern facilities, we look forward to continuing the development of Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S for the benefit of shareholders, employees and business partners.

by

Three times during the storage season, our trial varieties are taken out of storage for a color test and quality assessment.

These color samples help to assess how the new varieties perform as storage varieties in comparison with the most commonly used varieties in TCK. This work is crucial both for optimizations for our partners, suppliers and not least to ensure our customers the best future quality.

Our quality managers deep-fry them, after which they are laid out and rated according to a color chart from the European IBVL scale. It’s a very interesting process to see how the different varieties perform and after the data is entered, we lay them out from highest to lowest score and review the result.

These tests are very important for the work with new varieties and thus a look into Thorsens Chipskartofler’s future varieties. A new variety must therefore always go through a long series of tests and assessments and prove stable under Danish conditions over several generations before we invest in the variety.

by

The seed potato season is coming to an end and we can soon see the finish line.

It has been an exciting season where we have handled around 9,500 tons of seed potatoes, which is 1,500 tons more than in previous years.

The weather has been on our side and growers have been eager to receive their seed potatoes. Most are therefore already in the ground, with organic seed potatoes also in the ground, which is also quite early in the year. The last organic farmers actually expect to finish planting their potatoes before Easter.

The sorters have been working flat out and have done an excellent job.

We want to thank you for a great season and wish you a happy Easter.

by

Last week, we gathered over 40 suppliers who went with Jacob and our Agro department to Sweden on a two-day trip to visit our partner Estrella AB.

There was incredibly good support for this event, and it was a pleasure to see our growers sparring internally and sharing experiences, new and “old”.

We also held this year’s conventional grower meeting at the Estrella premises with various professional presentations.

We then had an educational tour of the production and ended with an exciting presentation from Estrella’s management.

We would like to say a big thank you to all participating growers and not least Estrella for their great hospitality and commitment during the visit.

by

We can’t get our arms down!

In November and December, we held 3 major orientation meetings with a total of over 90 participants.

We are proud that so many people showed interest in growing chip potatoes and chose to spend their time in our company.

It led to many good questions and clarification of the same.

We have subsequently made share deals with several people who now become owners in Denmark’s crispiest company.

We at Thorsens Chipskartofler would like to say thank you for the great turnout and positive feedback about the event.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers and business partners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

by

Sunds, May 30, 2024

PRESS RELEASE

Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S presents generational change. After several years of planning, Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S is making a generational change in 2024 and has hired a new CEO as of July 1, 2024. The board’s choice was Jacob Roland Pedersen. Jacob is 52 years old, lives with his family in Vejle, and has a background as Director of Chicken Production at Danpo A/S and CEO of Rokkedahl Food ApS.

As Jacob has no prior knowledge of chip potatoes, or the industry in general, prior to his appointment as CEO, there is an introduction to the company where the entire organization participates in giving Jacob the best possible insight. Current CEO Erik Bech Thorsen will continue as an employee of the company for 12 months after the CEO change. However, there will not be actual work tasks, but more a form of supervisor, to the extent desired.

Deep passion for chip potatoes. Jacob Roland Pedersen finds that there is a great deal of passion and insight about the value chain for chip potatoes among the employees, and everyone really makes a great effort to get me tuned into this unique high-value production. Thorsens Chipskartofler is a very exciting company that is owned by competent suppliers and has built up a unique concept for high-value products in collaboration with customers. I’m looking forward to getting deeper into the work and will of course be meeting both customers and shareholders in the near future.

Erik Bech Thorsen, who founded the company in 1986, looks back on a very exciting working life after all these years as director of the company. It is a life’s work that has been created and steadily developed in faithful collaboration with employees, farmers/shareholders and customers. Erik Thorsen is very grateful for all the support over the years that has driven the company to what it is today. After recent years of adversity from many sides, Erik Thorsen sees a bright future for the company. We have managed to turn the situation around and the outlook looks very positive for the coming seasons. Erik Thorsen hopes for the company that the basic culture and concept can be maintained, but as before, continue to be continuously developed.

The chairman of the board of Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S Kurt Friis Jørgensen is pleased with the choice of Jacob Roland Pedersen, and there has been an opportunity for Jacob to learn from the competent employees in the company. Our concept has evolved into something quite unique, and despite major challenges over the past few years, I am both confident and positive about the future.

Sincerely
Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S
V. Sneptrupvej 3
7451 Sunds

by

Last week, the Agro department was out putting our trial varieties in the field, and the weather was with us.

Every year we have both mini- and large-scale trials to test new varieties, to constantly be at the forefront of developments in the industry and thereby optimize both suppliers’ and customers’ finances.

There are some exciting varieties this year and we are excited to follow their development.

by 
The seed potato season is in full on and we are enjoying it.
 
Well over half of this year's seed potatoes have been sold and in a season like this, when there is a shortage, we use every single one.
We handle around 8,000 tonnes of seed potatoes annually, which takes place over a relatively short period of time.

Thorsens Chipskartofler A/S represents various varieties in Scandinavia, which you can read more about via the following link:
https://horsens.dk/laeggekartofler/
 
The seed potatoes will soon be in the ground and we are looking forward to following their development in the ground and seeing what they contribute to the coming season.