WORLD NEWS

ITALY AND BULGARIA

Twenty Italian tree and plant growers embark on a trade mission to Bulgaria

The Italian Trade Agency ITA (ICE), in collaboration with Italy’s National Association of Nursery Stock Exporters (ANVE), the Italian ambassador to Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Association of Ornamental Plant Growers (BAOPN) and the European Nurserystock Association (ENA), hosted a horticultural trade mission to Bulgaria on 30 November 2022. On this trade mission, Italian nursery stock growers met in Sofia’s Intercontinental Hotel with potential buyers from Bulgaria, including importers, landscapers, local authorities, garden designers, contractors, garden centres, and general contractors.

On this trade mission, twenty nursery stock growers from across Italy, including Azienda Agricola Cinelli Luca, Cantatore Vivai, Buongiovanni Vivai Piante, Caporalplant, Compagnia del Lago, Coplant di Dellabora Caterina e C. Soc. Semplice agr., Sgaravatti Group/ Green Land srl., Ideaverde, La Felche di Ivo Egizii Soc. Agr. Sem., Margheriti Piante, Apulia Plants, Sicilia Verde, Giorgio Tesi, Terrantica srl., Vivai Acciari, Vivai Capitanio Stefano sas, Vivai Imperatore, Vivai Piante Romiti Giampaolo, Vivai Piante Verde Molisse, and Vivai Aumenta, made introductions that hopefully will result in commercially viable implementations of Italian grown trees and plants in the Bulgarian landscape. In their welcome addresses, Italy’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Her Excellency Ms Giuseppina Zarra, and Mr Borislav Vladimirov, chairman of Sofia’s Guild of Architects, thanked the organisers for bringing so many stakeholders from within the Italian and Bulgarian nursery stock sectors together. ANVE president and Quercus and Cupressus grower Luigi Pagliani from Perugia and BAOPN president, Tatyana Boyadzhieva, provided an economic outlook of ornamental horticulture in Italy and Bulgaria. Marco Orlandelli, chairman of the trade show MyPlant & Garden, was at hand to invite Bulgarian operators to Milan between 22-24 February 2023.

NETHERLANDS

Nic den Heijer and One Flora Group agree to strengthen ties in floral wholesale

The new partnership will allow both companies to increase their product portfolio and optimise their logistic costs.

One Flora Group, distributor and importer of fresh cut flowers and plants, and Nic den Heijer, bouquet maker and distributor of cut flowers and potted plants to wholesalers, retailers, and garden centres, have agreed to strengthen their ties to develop and market a vast range of bouquets. Through the agreement, effective 1 November 2022, One Flora Group and Nic den Heijer have created an excellent collaboration, combined expertise, and a more efficient organisation. It also allows companies to expand their horizons with geographic diversification. The new partnership will give customers additional purchasing options, an increased level of service and a far wider diversity of offerings. One Flora Group emerged in June 2022, when Groenland Holding, consisting of Celieplant, Bouquetnet, Bloominess and Greenpacker, and L&M Group announced their merger. One Flora Group combines the experience, expertise and supply networks of cut flower and houseplant specialists Bloominess, Bouquetnet, Celieplant, Direct Flower Solutions, Spira, VE Bloemengroothandel, Waxed Roses Sensation, FlowerFactory, Greenpackers Bloominess, Greenpackers Bouquetnet, L&M Transport, L&M Rijnsburg, Lilies Direct, Zami, and Growing Together. The new partnership between One Flora Group and Nic den Heijer allows the companies to optimise sourcing through L&M Group and tap into Groenland’s massive global network. One Flora Group sells flowers and plants to retailers, wholesalers, and consumers worldwide, generating an annual turnover of more than €400 million. This sales figure places the company among the Netherlands’s top 10 largest floral wholesalers. The management’s ambition is to achieve sustainable and transparent business growth. Established in 1948, Nic den Heijer Bloemenexport is quintessentially a family business and distributor of cut flowers, potted plants and bouquets for wholesalers, garden centres and the highest retail segment. www.onefloragroup.com.