Veenendaal, 30 September 2022 – HatchTech Group, producer of high-performance technology for global food producers, and REWE Group, one of Europe’s leading retail groups and among others operator of the REWE supermarket chain, have agreed that, as of today, HatchTech will acquire REWE Group’s 50% stake in the SELEGGT GmbH and respeggt GmbH. This agreement allows SELEGGT and respeggt to accelerate their international growth by taking advantage of HatchTech’s global network.

HatchTech and REWE Group jointly founded SELEGGT (2017) and respeggt (2019), as part of their shared commitment to setting new ethical standards in the poultry industry. Today, seven gender identification machines are installed and operational, allowing to house around 20 million laying hens “Free of Chick Culling”. This success is a result of HatchTech’s expertise in research and technology, and the commercial reach of REWE Group.

Tjitze Meter, Founder and CEO, HatchTech Group: “Our collaboration with REWE Group has been vital in establishing SELEGGT and respeggt, particularly in the German market. Together, we completed the start-up phase for these ventures, and have put a strong technology foundation in place. With a continuous strong focus on research and development, we are ready to further develop our offerings. This next stage will allow us to bring SELEGGT and respeggt eggs to a global audience.”

About SELEGGT and respeggt

SELEGGT uses gender identification in the hatching egg process on the 9^th day of incubation to identify whether a hatching egg  is male or female. This allows hatcheries to only hatch female chicks and avoid the traditional practice of culling male chicks directly after hatching. The SELEGGT process in egg production supply chains is sustainable, adds ethical value and ensures a high level of efficiency.

Headquartered in Germany, respeggt is the quality label given to consumer products that have eliminated chicken culling. To date, respeggt is responsible for having delivered more than one billion respeggt table eggs and more than eight million respeggt laying hens into the supply chains of table egg production. respeggt table eggs are sold nationally in German supermarkets as well as in stores in the Netherlands and Switzerland. As of October 1^st the management team of SELEGGT and respeggt will be formed by Martijn Haarman (CEO) and Carmen Uphoff (COO). Dr. Ludger Breloh will remain attached to the companies as chairman of the Advisory Board.

About HatchTech Group

Founded in 1996, HatchTech Group is an innovation-focused company using research and the latest technologies to introduce game-changing, early-stage solutions to the food industry and other markets worldwide. By revolutionizing chick hatching and transportation, and pioneering new innovations such as gender identification in the hatching egg and vertical farming, HatchTech supports customers in over 45 countries to maximize performance while driving sustainability and animal welfare.

HatchTech is committed to innovation, growth and animal welfare, and continuously seeks like-minded partners to develop new technologies and help support a more sustainable society. The company, therefore, welcomes REWE Group as a new partner. REWE Group will acquire a minority share in HatchTech Group. HatchTech and REWE Group have agreed not to disclose specific financial details regarding the transaction.