Merger strengthens agricultural footprint in Africa
· 2 min read
The worldwide landscape of agriculture and crop protection is changing fast and to be able to provide customers with the best solutions, Villa Crop Protection and the Intelichem Group announced a merger under the American brand, WinField United.
The combination of these established agricultural leaders in South Africa will create a platform to develop an improved value proposition, including technology, scientific data, best genetic seed provision, and an unbeatable portfolio in crop protection solutions. The new group will present unique opportunities for all stakeholders. The integration of Villa and InteliChem will bring forth one holding company with: 1) Structured functionalities, 2) Separate operating divisions and 3) Shared services.
The new Winfield United South Africa Group consists of a holding company with a focused, standalone retail legal entity and a separate, standalone wholesale legal entity. Each of these entities retain their dedicated management teams.
Newly appointed WinField United South Africa CEO, Jan Vermaak says, “We are all now part of the global WinField United family. Through the alignment of our wholesale and retail channels, we will have additional resources and capabilities which put us in a great position to improve our value proposition, streamline operations, improve productivity, and serve our customers better. Our goal is to build a leading and sustainable agricultural company in South Africa which will benefit all stakeholders.”
What is next?
Vermaak says that on a day-to-day basis, it is business as usual, “with very little, if any impact on customer relationships.”
“How we talk about agriculture and ourselves will change the future. We will have a modern voice that reflects the impact of today’s challenges and opportunities. Together, we will bring new ideas and new ways to advance our network of customers in all segments and move the entire South African agricultural industry towards the future.”
More from
Markets, business and trade
Does Government know what it’s costing you?
A decision made in Pretoria can change the way a wine business operates. But who makes sure the people making those decisions understand what happens on the ground? South Africa Wine’s Jordyn Goeieman takes us inside the often unseen work of influencing the policies that affect the industry.
All roads lead to Wine Paris
With professionals from more than 169 countries attending Wine Paris in 2026, the exhibition has become an increasingly important meeting point for the global wine trade. Nicolas Cuissard, Director of Wine Paris, speaks to WineLand about the exhibition’s growing international influence, opportunities for South African producers and what it takes to turn participation into business.
Before you bottle it, can you sell it?
A good wine and an attractive label are not enough to build a sustainable business. South Africa Wine’s Phil Bowes explains why finding customers, testing assumptions and understanding the numbers should come before committing to a new wine brand.