Jiffy Group

This interview details Jiffy Group, a company based in the Netherlands. The interview is with Kyle Freedman, Market Segment Manager CEA at Jiffy Group.

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What is the origin story of Jiffy Group?

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Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. 

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Founded in the early 1950s, we began our journey with the introduction of the innovative Jiffy Pot, a compostable and plant container that gained widespread success in the US and European markets. 

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In the late 1960s, we launched the Jiffy-7 pellet, further solidifying our position in the industry. Our acquisition of Preforma Plant Plug in 2002 marked a significant milestone, making us a world leader in state-of-the-art plant propagation systems. 

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Today, we are also at the forefront of the coir market, with our pellet factory in Sri Lanka. Jiffy has a wide range of products, including the Jiffy Pots, Jiffy Pellets, Jiffy Growbags, Jiffy Growblocks, Jiffy Preforma, and Jiffy Substrates providing automated, innovative and sustainable growing solutions for all types of customers. 

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Our commitment to innovation and sustainability drives our operations across our global locations, including the US, Canada, Sri Lanka, Japan, and several European countries. 

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What are some of the biggest challenges facing Jiffy Group in the future?

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Addressing our future challenges, we acknowledge the increasing demand for peat-free grown crops, a trend expected to accelerate in response to evolving legislation and public opinion. 

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Our challenge lies in leading the transition to peat-free substrates. We already have coir options for our products, and we have been working on developing peat-reduced and peat-free substrates, utilizing various raw materials such as wood fibers, coir, and sphagnum moss. 

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We aim to offer sustainable, high-quality growing media that meets both environmental standards and the performance requirements of growers. Balancing these aspects while adapting to rapid market changes and maintaining product quality and sustainability is a significant challenge for us moving forward. 

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What is unique about Jiffy Group compared to competitors?

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At Jiffy Group, our unique advantage comes from combining our worldwide presence with local knowledge and regular conversations with growers. Additionally, our wide range of products like pots, pellets, growbags, grow blocks, plugs, and substrates make us unique. Growers can count on us every step of the way. 

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We offer various options in our product range, catering to different clients with unique needs. Our offerings span from propagation to cultivation, emphasizing the development of better roots and overall plant health. This extensive range of solutions, along with our commitment to sustainable and innovative practices, allows us to provide tailor-made options for our clients, ensuring their specific requirements are met at every stage of plant growth. 

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What are some other relevant metrics of the company (growing area size, production quantity, team size, etc.)?

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Our metrics and initiatives encompass a commitment to innovation and sustainability in plant growing solutions. We actively collaborate with growers, universities, and industry leaders globally, focusing on research and data-driven, innovative solutions. 

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Our production sites are strategically located across various countries, each contributing to our diverse product offerings. In addition to our global production presence, we also prioritize Quality, Health, Environment, Safety (QHES), and Food Safety. We adhere to relevant regulations, standards, and certifications, focusing on safety, environmental protection, and food safety through risk assessments and continual process improvements. Examples of our unique certifications are ISO 9001 - quality management system, ISO 22000 for food safety management, ISO 14001environmental system certification, RHP and others including OMRI and Veriflora for specific products.

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Jiffy facilities: 

• Canada: Jiffy Products N.B. Ltd in Pokemouche, New Brunswick, offers comprehensive services and products. 
• Denmark: Jiffy AS in Ryomgaard, Denmark, is a pivotal European location. 
• Estonia: Jiffy Products Estonia AS and Treffex AS, both in Pärnumaa, Estonia, enhancing our European presence. 
• Japan: Jiffy Preforma Production K.K. in Yokohama City, Japan, caters to the Asian market.
• Netherlands: Jiffy Products International BV, with multiple locations in Zwijndrecht and Hoek van Holland, serves as our headquarters and a significant production hub. 
• Norway: Jiffy Products International AS in Stange, Norway, further strengthens our European operations. 
• Spain: Jiffy Products Espana in Puerto Lumbreras, Murcia, Spain, adds to our European capabilities. 
• Sri Lanka: Jiffy Products S.L. (Private) Ltd in Mirigama Export Processing Zone, a key site for our coir products. 
• Sweden: Jiffy Unitorv AB in Älmult, Sweden, another important European site.
• USA: Jiffy Products of America Inc. in Lorain, Ohio, and soon to come a new factory at West Coast. 

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What are some goals in 2024 and beyond for Jiffy Group?

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For 2024 and beyond, Jiffy Group's goals are centered around continuing our role as an innovation and service leader in sustainable plant growing solutions. A key focus is advancing our peat-free initiatives, responding to the growing demand for environmentally friendly growing media. 

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Jiffy is proud to announce that we will be opening a new Preforma factory on the United States’ West Coast. This new facility will enhance our ability to serve our customer base in North America and Latin America. 

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We are also committed to enhancing food safety in all our products, ensuring they meet the highest standards for use in food production. Additionally, we aim to develop new solutions for Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and other crop solutions, constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of the global agricultural sector. This approach aligns with our mission to feed and beautify the world through sustainable and innovative plant growing solutions. 

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How can people connect with you or learn more about Jiffy Group?

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To connect with us at Jiffy Group, we welcome you to reach out to our dedicated account and product managers on our website www.jiffygroup.com. For broader queries, you can contact Jiffy on our contact form, also available on our website. Our team is equipped to assist with all questions related to our sustainable growing media for various crop types. We are here to provide the support and information you need. Let’s develop sustainable plant growing solutions together: Let’s start today!

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