Duda and G’s Group Acquire Tozer Seeds in Joint Venture to Expand Global Vegetable Breeding

Duda & Sons and G’s Group have joined together to acquire Tozer Seeds Ltd, bringing one of the United Kingdom’s most established independent vegetable seed companies under new shared ownership while preserving its independence and leadership.

“With over 200 years of celery breeding research and development—including our proprietary Duda Generations varieties, grown by Duda Farm Fresh Foods—we’ve built an unmatched foundation of innovation,” said Sammy Duda, CEO and president of A. Duda & Sons. “By combining Duda’s celery genetics with Tozer’s global breeding portfolio, we’re positioned to accelerate the next generation of celery products that elevate flavor, quality and category growth.”

Founded in 1944 in West London by Arthur Tozer and owned by the Dawson family since 1950, Tozer Seeds has built a global reputation for innovation in vegetable breeding and the production of high-quality seed crops. Over eight decades, the company has delivered a series of industry-firsts, including the world’s first commercial F1 hybrid parsnip and celery varieties. 

Today, Tozer’s portfolio spans a wide range of specialty horticultural crops, including celery, parsnip, kale, coriander, rocket, squash, legumes and leeks.

Under the terms of the deal, Tozer Seeds will continue to operate as an independent business, retaining its name, management team and long-standing approach to plant breeding and seed development. Its operations in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States are included in the deal, supporting continued global breeding, multiplication and sales activities without disruption for existing customers.

“The executive team of Tozer Seeds and the Dawson family are delighted to see the continuation of the Tozer name and legacy after stewarding it for over 75 years,” said Steven J Winterbottom, managing director of Tozer Seeds. “By joining forces with Duda and G’s, we anticipate the business evolving into an even more exciting and dynamic future.”

Duda & Sons and G’s Group have worked together for more than a decade, during which G’s has had exclusive access to Duda Generations proprietary celery genetics and seed varieties in Europe. Separately, G’s has collaborated with Tozer Seeds for more than 30 years across its growing regions. By combining Tozer’s global breeding strategy with Duda’s advanced celery genetics program, the joint venture aims to accelerate innovation and deliver new varieties to growers worldwide.

Tozer’s independence is expected to provide stability for customers and partners, while the backing of two large, vertically integrated produce companies strengthens access to investment, breeding science, and global markets.

“We have long admired Tozer’s diversity of genetics across its crop portfolio,” said Guy W. Shropshire, CEO of G’s Group. “Through this acquisition we have enabled the bringing together of Tozer and Duda’s world-leading celery genetics.”