The story and history of Granaria Holdings B.V.
Grandfather Louis’ father was a small butcher in Lochem, a village in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Having to walk to farmers to pick up cows, Louis soon realized that the farmers in the eastern part of the Netherlands needed grains to feed their animals. He became a middle man between the farmers and German cooperatives.
Soon he moved to Rotterdam where he started importing grains from the Balkan countries, the USA, Argentina and Brazil.
During the Second World War the occupier seized Granaria’s assets as the family was forced to go into hiding. From 1945 till 1954 the graintrade was controlled by the Dutch government as the country was getting back on its feet. Granaria was allocated a substantial share of the grain imports as an importing agent.
In 1954, his son Martin Wyler together with his nephew Sam Wyler took over the company.
After serving as a wartime pilot, Martin Wyler studied agricultural economics in the USA. Martin was one of the pioneers who introduced linear programming (L.P.) which calculates optimal feed intake per animal at the lowest price. As prices fluctuated, advantages could be realised by interchanging the various ingredients. This became a major competitive advantage for Granaria.
Soon Granaria built various silos to enable their customers to optimize logistics and interchangeability of ingredients. An oil seed crushing plant was acquired and expanded. The European grain trading business grew as well and by the end of the 70’s Granaria was one of the major grain and feed ingredient traders. Grandfather Louis passed away in 1977.
Brothers Danny and Joel Wyler took over the company in 1982 as they bought out the other family members. They realized further growth of the company until 1990 when they sold the company in two phases. They acquired a fledgling nut processing company which became a basis for The Nut Company, a consolidation of a number of acquisitions, which became the foremost nut processing company in Europe. The Nut Company was sold in 2002. Martin Wyler passed away in 2006. Joel’s son David Wyler joined the company in 2010.
Granaria today is an investment company which holds various financial, private equity and property investments and pursues further growth and possible major acquisitions.