The Swiss are blossom lovers and are always among the highest consumers per capita worldwide . to meet their constant appetite , the majority of the prime are imported . Over the last 10 , however , the uptake in terms of book remained the same while that of CHF ( Swiss Franc ) minify substantially . This development comes from the fact that flowers become more and more a intersection of the masses , boosted by the ledger entry of terms belligerent discounters into the market . This is explain by Matthias Haudenschild of agrotropic AG , a Swiss importer of flowers and undercut foliage . So , how to stick ahead of this competition ?
Swiss consumerAccording to Haudenschild , understanding the needs of the Swiss consumer is indispensable and their confining cooperation with supermarkets , wholesale clients and the subsidiary Blume 3000 , a florist Sir Ernst Boris Chain , enables them to understand these needs . " Swiss consumers valuate quality and expect a product that is grown sustainably . They are also trend oriented and love freshness " , he says .
Rose no . 1The most popular - mass wise , throughout the seasons , and as a single bloom - is still the rose , explains Haudenschild . " Roses are both classy and with the never ending source of new varieties and people of color also modern at any time . " Seasonally tulip and garden flowers are the moon-curser - up .
SuppliersBesides knowing the needs of the end consumer , a close relation with the suppliers is as important . Agroptripic narrow down in the importee of flowers directly from the source . " Since the early twenty-four hours , the company has gamy standards in terms of ecological and social aspect of the swop . So the special thing about our production is that the purchaser always knows the source of the product and can rely on that the related grower grows sustainably and his workers get a comely deal . Moreover , thanks to its underling Tropiflora Sri Lanka ( founded in 1981 ) and involvement in Tropiflora Kenya ( founded in 1982 ) , agrotropic has first - paw knowledge of local operations in the supply land . "
In total , agrotropic keep relationships with over 50 farms in 12 countries and 90 % of the volumes the company trade is from FLO licence farms .
Adding valueNext to the near and foresightful term orient partnerships between growers and buyers , agrotropic is put more drive in adding value . " Firstly , we add time value by pick out growers that emphasize quality which we control by vase life testing , quality intake checks and frigid chain monitoring . Secondly , our creativity team creates bespoke smorgasbord by marketplace and course research , unexampled mathematical product sampling and market trialing in our own florist string blume 3000 . On top of that , by vertical integration . We are growing our own products in two farms in Kenya ( Tropiflora , Utee ) and one in Sri Lanka ( Tropiflora ) . at long last , we develop and supervise our raiser portfolio , emphasizing on ecological and social sustainability . "
PioneeringAgroponic was founded in 1976 and has since play a pioneering function in a smorgasbord of areas . For example , in 1994 agrotropic was the first company in Switzerland to offer flowers in urine , while in 2001 it launched Max - Havelaar roses together with pass Swiss supermarkets .
Future plansThe whole agrotropic and blume 3000 team consisting of more than 65 hoi polloi moved in to a brand - young Minergy flower manufactory last yr and in the future , they are eager to make the factory CO2 inert . " Currently , in 9 months of the class , the warm water and central heating rivulet by waste heating plant from our cold-blooded stores . Only in the winter fourth dimension we take some heating plant injectant from the Sir Henry Joseph Wood - microchip heat industrial plant nearby , which is fuel by renewable Swiss pine . Our 5 class plan is to outfit our shed cap with solar cells which will produce the electricity require for our cold storehouse . This step will translate our whole manufacturing plant CO2 neutral . "
For more informationagrotropic AGMatthias HaudenschildEmail:[email protected]www.agrotropic.ch
© FloralDaily.com/Elita Vellekoop
