GARTENBAU-VERSICHERUNG REFLECTS ON QUIET CLAIMS YEAR 2025.
A low gross loss ratio, significant growth abroad, and a strengthened fluctuation reserve characterize the 2025 financial year. At this year’s members’ representatives assembly, board members Christian Senft and Dr. Dietmar Kohlruss spoke openly about the challenges facing the industry. The central question was: What does horticulture need to remain successful in times of change?
An Excellent Claims Year for European Horticulture
Financial year 2025 was a statistically low-claims year for Gartenbau-Versicherung. The gross claims ratio stood at 29.1%, the lowest figure in a 10-year comparison. Nevertheless, individual companies experienced the year differently: At the end of May, a severe storm with hail struck around 100 farms in the Lower Rhine region. Some fire incidents, including a large garden center in Berlin, also left their mark.
Gartenbau-Versicherung consistently used the positive claims experience to build up its mandatory reserves. With an allocation of EUR 40.1 million, the equalization reserve was increased to EUR 88.3 million. This creates financial stability for future claims years.
Strong Growth, Solid Results
Gross premiums rose by 3.6% compared to the previous year to EUR 129.1 million. The main driver was direct business with an increase of 4.9%. Growth markets were particularly France and the Netherlands, but also newer markets Poland, Greece, and Belgium. Direct business abroad thus maintains its share of over 50% of total direct business. The annual net profit after taxes was EUR 2.4 million.
“2025 has given us tailwinds,” said board chairman Christian Senft. “We are using this to further strengthen our community and ensure that our members remain reliably protected even in more difficult years.”
Finance board member Dr. Dietmar Kohlruss added: “The good claims year has also strengthened us with regard to our capital requirements. The solvency coverage ratio was increased to 284%.”
Changes in the Committees
In regular elections, the assembly re-elected Beate Schönges and Hermann Berchtenbreiter to the supervisory board. New to the committee is Dr. Yvonne Peters. She brings extensive expertise in strategy and marketing as well as years of operational experience in horticulture.
What is special: She combines practical industry knowledge with academic depth and has diverse experience in committee work. She succeeds Lothar Dahs, who did not stand again after many years as deputy supervisory board chairman. The board and supervisory board chairman Frank Werner acknowledged his commitment and engagement with Gartenbau-Versicherung. For 36 years he has significantly shaped the development of the VVaG.
There were also new additions among the members’ representatives: Karl Kühne from Dresden, who runs an ornamental plant farm together with his parents, Tobias Rothenbücher from Neuenstein, who produces mainly tomatoes and strawberries in his operation, and Dominik Baum, managing director of Vitarom Straelen Bio GmbH, were newly elected to the assembly. Hartmut Goldschmidt, who passed away, as well as Heiko Hagdorn and Josef Hoffmann have stepped down. Supervisory board chairman Frank Werner thanked them for their trusting cooperation.
Horticulture in Transition: Understanding Challenges, Acting Together
At the subsequent program of the Members’ Assembly, the future of the industry was the focus. In a panel discussion titled ‘Horticulture in Transition. Understanding Challenges, Acting Together,’ five experts discussed questions that concern farms today: ZVG president Eva Kähler-Theuerkauf, Kieler Rück board chairwoman Monika Köstlin, members’ representatives Johannes Schmidt (Gebrüder Schmidt Gartenbau, Königslutter) and Kurt Dominik (Dominik Gartenbau, Hörstel), and moderator Christian Senft, who also contributed substantively.
The discussion focused on concrete answers to current questions: What do horticultural enterprises need to be successful in ten years? What makes businesses strong? What works better together?
“The topics change, the responsibility remains,” said Senft. “We want to provide guidance today and strengthen confidence.”
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