Bloom town
We visit the Bloemenveiling Aalsmeer, one of the world’s biggest flower auctions, to meet the companies behind the scenes of this multi-billion-euro industry that handles 20 million cut flowers every day.
1.
Leucospermum
OZ Import
Jaap Stelder is CEO of OZ Import, one of 23 companies that make up the Dutch Flower Group, the world’s largest flower importer and exporter – including orange African Leucospermum or Pincushion. OZ employs 40 people and holds a King Quality badge for the environmentally friendly standards it maintains.
2.
Leucocoryne Andes
Kesteloo Bloembollen
Breezand on the Dutch Waddenzee coast is the only place in the world where the distinctive purple Leucocoryne Andes, pictured here, are grown. Five farms grow them, one of which is the Kesteloo Bloembollen farm. The 50-year-old family business is run by two brothers, Karel and Marius, and their 25 employees.
3.
Zantedeschia
Kapiteyn
The Dutch family business Kapiteyn, established in 1926, developed the dark purple Zantedeschia (Arum lily) in 1992. Every year 35 million Zantedeschias are sold at Aalsmeer, generating €16m. Kapiteyn’s novelty, Captain Murano, won the best small flowering Zantedeschia prize at this summer’s Zantedeschia Parade in Lisse.
4.
Plastic sleeves
Van der Gugten
The brothers Freek and Martin Van der Gugten are the fourth generation to run the packaging company Van der Gugten in Rijnsburg, 20km from Aalsmeer. They employ 20 people who manufacture packaging products such as the plastic flower sleeves in our picture. Sleeves come with customised prints, rubber bands and flower feed.
5.
Export services
Hilverda De Boer
Johan Hilarides heads the Aalsmeer-based Hilverda De Boer, one of Holland’s five largest flower exporters, with branches in Japan and the US, 270 employees and an annual turnover of €100m. Germany, France and Scandinavia are Hilverda De Boer’s most important markets. OZ Export is Hilverda De Boer’s largest competitor.
6.
Trolleys
Alcomij
Alcomij, a sister company of Dutch Hordijk Holding, manufactures trolleys, like the ones in the picture, and aluminium and steel components for greenhouses. Holland is the company’s biggest market but exports to Germany and Poland are also large. Theo Sanders is managing director and employs 75 people.
7.
Containers
Sivepo
Sivepo was started in 1984 by Dutch flower auctions to standardise their flower containers. This was done so that containers would fit uniformly on trolleys and ensure that flowers could be moved from grower to seller as quickly as possible. The company has an annual circulation of 17 million containers and employs only five members of staff.
8.
Tug tractor
Motrac Linde
Motrac Linde mainly sells forklifts but also makes specialist tractors, including the small tug tractor seen here that is manufactured just for transporting flowers. Joost Buck has been CEO of Motrac Linde in the Netherlands for 18 months. The firm employs 300 people and has an annual turnover of €100m.
