Big Dutchman
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Agriculture, Farming equipment |
| Predecessor | Automatic Poultry Feeder Company, DeWitt Industries Poultry Feeder Company |
| Founded | January 1, 1938 in Holland, Michigan, United States |
| Founder | Jack DeWitt, Dick DeWitt |
| Headquarters | Vechta-Calveslage , Germany |
Area served | Worldwide (over 100 countries) |
Key people | Bernd Meerpohl (CEO) |
| Products | Housing systems and feeding technologies for poultry and swine farming; insect farming (black soldier fly larvae) |
| Revenue | €1.07 billion (2022) |
Number of employees | 3,211 (2022) |
| Website | www |
Big Dutchman AG is a supplier of housing solutions and feeding technologies for poultry and swine farming, with its headquarters located in Vechta-Calveslage, Germany. This privately held, family-run enterprise operates across more than 100 nations worldwide.
History
The origins of Big Dutchman trace back to 1938 when Jack DeWitt and his brother Dick established the parent firm in Holland, Michigan, aiming to enhance poultry farm productivity by creating an automated feed transport system. Initially focused on turkey hatchery operations, the business gradually transitioned into producing feeding equipment. During the late 1940s, they introduced a flat chain feeder and founded the Automatic Poultry Feeder Company, later renamed DeWitt Industries Poultry Feeder Company. By the 1950s, the company expanded into European markets through sales agencies and launched a larger chicken breed in 1955.
In 1958, German poultry farmer Josef Meerpohl joined as a sales agent. The company adopted the name Big Dutchman in 1964. The DeWitt brothers divested their shares by 1968 and fully exited the sector by 1971.
In 1985, Josef Meerpohl led a management buyout to acquire Big Dutchman, moving its headquarters to Vechta, Germany. His son Bernd Meerpohl took over as CEO in 1992. Under their guidance, the firm prioritized international growth and advancements in animal husbandry technologies.
Big Dutchman expanded its European footprint by acquiring Spanish poultry equipment manufacturer Zucami in January 2014. It was honored with the EuroTier innovation prize from the German Agricultural Society in 2016 for its Culina Flex piglet feeding system featuring a hygiene valve.
In February 2022, Big Dutchman acquired a minority interest in the Dutch Ammerlaan Group based in Venlo, marking an entry into greenhouse technology diversification.
Company structure
By 2022, Big Dutchman generated revenues amounting to €1.07 billion and employed approximately 3,211 staff members. Its worldwide infrastructure includes seven international logistics hubs and services livestock producers in around 100 countries, maintaining about 8,000 clients within Germany alone.
Products
Big Dutchman focuses on producing housing systems and feeding solutions tailored for egg production, poultry rearing, and pig farming sectors. The company’s operations emphasize product development, sales, and distribution while outsourcing manufacturing tasks to subcontractors such as smaller metal fabrication companies. Additionally, it has ventured into insect farming through a subsidiary specializing in breeding black soldier fly larvae.
Moreover, Big Dutchman partners with the Dutch Ammerlaan Group, renowned for designing advanced greenhouse systems utilized in cultivating fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and flowers.