FLAMINGO HORTICULTURE

F L A M I N G O H O R T I C U LT U R E

Farming for the future, through the delivery of fresh, colourful produce to the world

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tarting in 1982 in Nairobi, Kenya as Homegrown - a horticultural business that was set up to exploit the benefits of the country’s equatorial position - Flamingo Horticulture Ltd has flourished over the past 25 years to become a world-class vertically integrated entity.

Also leveraging Kenya’s strong heritage in the sector as well as its populous make-up, the business began back then in the vegetable and fruit production domain across Homegrown’s own farms, as well as with small-scale Kenyan farmers. In 1989, Homegrown also ventured into the production of flowers, setting the tone for the multi-faceted portfolio that today’s Flamingo Horticulture is reputed for.

Flamingo Horticulture is a worldclass vertically integrated horticultural business active in the growing, processing, marketing and distribution of sustainably produced roses, cut flowers, premium/prepared vegetables and fresh herbs and is one of the largest added-value producers and exporters of flowers (c300 million stems per annum) and produce (c7.5 million kilograms per annum) from Africa to the EU; as well as one of the world’s largest producers and packers of Fairtrade roses and lilies.

Headquartered in Stevenage, around 30 miles outside London, the quality of the Group’s processing operations, logistics network and well-invested African farms make it one of the leading and best regarded companies within its categories globally, with infrastructure and technical capabilities which are able to consistently handle and deliver the key flower peaks; for example, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Christmas.

As such, the Group’s model is balanced between its own large-scale professional farms operating in Kenya and South Africa, and long-term

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By Growers, for Growers Flamingo Horticulture’s unrivalled devotion to fresh flower and produce supply has led it to the shelves of supermarkets around the world Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

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FLORALIFE Floralife and Flamingo Horticulture: Responsible Partnership As a leader in the postharvest care and handling of flowers, Floralife’s goal is to ensure that a supply of top quality flowers reaches the consumer. Through our products, facilities and practices, Floralife is constantly looking at new and better ways to incorporate the best sustainable practices. As we conduct business around the world, we seek partners who share our commitment, such as Kenyan flower grower Flamingo Horticulture.

Sustainability and social responsibility are important topics that affect many aspects of life in the developing world, including water conservation and responsible agriculture. As living standards improve, there is also a new emphasis on employee satisfaction and enrichment, as well as responsible environmental stewardship.

Customers are always offered the highest quality product range

sourcing partnerships with a global network of vertically integrated third party suppliers and outgrowers. This supply chain strategy ensures that customers are offered the highest quality product range on a consistent year-round basis.

Jonathan Ralling, Managing Director of Flamingo Horticulture Kenya quotes: “The Group’s success is dependent on - and hence focused on - delivering six key drivers to our retail customers: quality, availability, value, sustainability, innovation and insight. We believe the first three should be givens and it is the last three that will ensure Flamingo’s long-term viability and prosperity.

“Our business is defined by ambition, Kenyan pride, and an outstanding work ethic. We use these core principles along with innovation techniques to differentiate our products and operations from our competitors’.”

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Our business is defined by ambition, Kenyan pride, and an outstanding work ethic. We use these core principles along with innovation techniques to differentiate our products

Flamingo Horticulture is an example of the flower industry’s promise and its responsibility to the people and the environment. Their efforts in the areas of water use and waste disposal have earned Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certifications. Employee amenities include set working hours and time off, free transportation and subsidized meals onsite. Local outreach efforts include a company hospital that serves the entire community.

Floralife offers partners such as Flamingo Horticulture testing and expert advice on pretreatment, hydration, transport and storage, and final food solutions for nourishment conditioning. Floralife technologies also help reduce water usage, optimize flower nutrition, fight disease and help ensure longer vase life.

In partnership with Flamingo Horticulture, Floralife helps ensure that each hectare of soil is being used responsibly and efficiently to produce superior flowers for the discerning international market.

www.floralife.com

From harvest to home, Floralife provides the perfect solutions for the care and handling of your fresh cut flowers.

Founded in 1938 in the flower market of Chicago, USA, Floralife introduced the first cut flower food to the world. Since then, we have expanded our global footprint and followed our passion for beautiful fresh cut flowers by creating the best care and handling products for the industry. Today, we have a network of floriculture experts working around the world to solve problems and develop innovative solutions. Located around the globe in key floral markets, we have our own technical experts, testing facilities and laboratories from which we conduct product development, field trials, audits, educational seminars, marketing and sales.

For almost 80 years, Floralife has been solving the postharvest care and handling needs of the cut flower industry.

We support the entire cut flower distribution chain from harvest to home; from growers to wholesalers; and from supermarkets and retail shops to consumers. Our products provide the ultimate enjoyment experience for the end consumer with solutions for pretreatment, hydration, transport & storage, and final flower food solutions for nourishment & conditioning.

With the merging of two leaders in the industry, the purchase of Floralife by Smithers-Oasis Company in 2007 has created a one-stop shop for all your floral needs. As a full service company, we are able to be your complete floral partner to make your program easier, streamlined and informed throughout the entire flower chain. With one point of access for your floral needs, your business will be more efficient and cost effective.

WE FOLLOW THE FLOWERS AND PLANTS WE FOLLOW THE

FLOWERS & PLANTS Retail Florist Floral Wholesaler

Supermarket

Breeders

Consumer

Growers Bouquet Operation

Internet

As the inventor of the revolutionary FloralifeÂŽ Express Technology line of floral care products, fresh cut flowers are now able to be fed and fully hydrated without ever having to re-cut the stems.

For a deeper dive into the world of Floralife, go to our website at www.floralife.com or on any of our social media sites: Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest or YouTube.

Oasis Floralife Africa Ltd, Po Box 20496-00200, Nairobi, Kenya T: +254 780 000073 +254 733 123006 E: infoafrica@floralife.com

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Flamingo Horticulture’s history

“From the beginning, In order to differentiate the Flamingo offer, our operations were underpinned by best practice in four key areas: good agricultural practice (GAP); good manufacturing practice (GMP); social and ethical ways of working; and environmental protection,” Ralling explains when recalling the journey that Flamingo Horticulture has enjoyed over the past quarter of a century. “It is these pillars that are the foundations of Flamingo’s strong sustainability credentials today.”

1994: The other key was the vertical integration between Kenya and the UK when Flamingo was set up in the UK as the Group holding company and as Homegrown’s marketing and distribution arm. This gave Flamingo control and ownership from a growing, vegetable processing, distribution and freight forwarding operation perspective in Nairobi; and an airfreight, to marketing and distribution point of view in the UK.

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That meant Flamingo was in total control of its entire supply chain from Kenya to the UK. 2000: In 2000, Flamingo increased its interest in flower production and acquired Flowerplus in Spalding.

This was followed in 2002 by the acquisition of Zwetsloots in Sandy, Bedfordshire and these two businesses are the basis of Flamingo Flowers’ operations in the UK. 2001: Dudutech, the Group’s Kenyabased IPM Company was formed in response to growing consumer concerns about the use of pesticides in horticulture. Dudu is Swahili for insect, and the Company is focused on developing indigenous Kenyan insects and other naturally-occurring products that can be used as an alternative to agrichemicals. 2001 also saw Flamingo become the marketing partner for those growing operations that used to supply the Albert Fisher group. These companies are still the backbone of the Company’s supply partners today.

GREENLIFE CROP PROTECTION AFRICA LTD

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ccording to the Food & Agriculture Organisation’s report on the state of food and agriculture in Africa, it was noted that there was a dire need to take action now to make agriculture more sustainable, productive and resilient to counter the climatic changes that will have a direct impact on food production in countries that are already prone to food insecurity.

Greenlife Crop Protection Africa Ltd is at the forefront of this agenda; products are tailored to accommodate even the lowest in the agricultural food chain. Affordability, accessibility and environmental safety are the pillars through which the Company intend to change the way crop protection is achieved on the continent.

The Company pays special emphasis to ensure that products are not harmful to the environment, ecosystems, and does not compromise on food quality and the safety of the farmers and consumers.

African crop yields are the lowest in the world yet Africa is one of the most fertile continents in the world, and the Company is aligned with the 2030 agenda of eradication of hunger and poverty. Kenya will serve as the first case study in this mission and will be part of the movement be green and sustainable with Greenlife.

Our five-year goal is to ensure every farmer has knowledge of crop protection that adds value and contributes not only to food security but impacts significantly on their economic power.

T +254 735 544544 E info@greenlife.co.ke

www.greenlife.co.ke

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We know about Floriculture & Horticulture Crop Protection With an extensive catalogue of floriculture and horticulture agrochemicals, we pride ourselves in being able to anticipate and meet our farmers needs, providing efficient products that ensure optimum crop protection impacting significantly on food security and their economic power.

GREENLIFE IS AN AUTHORITY IN PLANT DISEASE AND PEST CONTROL P. O. Box 24942 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Fax: +254 738 980267 Mob: +254 735 544544 +254 722 563698, Tel: +254 20 2441201/2 info@greenlife.co.ke | www.greenlife.co.ke

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PACKAGING INDUSTRIES

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rom its humble beginnings in 1985, PIL has grown to become a world class manufacturer of flexible packaging and is now one of the largest in the East and Central African region.

Some of the services we offer include: • Extrusion (up to seven-layer) • Printing (up to eight colour flexo) • In house reprographics with Computer to Plate technology • Lamination (solventless) • Laser, hot needle and macro perforation • Slitting With a proven track record of on-time infull delivery across a wide geographical area, the Company has its own delivery fleet and offer a stockholding service as required.

The Company has established an innovative reputation

Flamingo’s farms Kingfisher

Naivasha (roses, spray carnations, fresh produce)

Flamingo

Naivasha (roses and fillers)

Ibis

Mount Kenya (tenderstem, broccoli, fine beans, runner beans, sugar snaps mangetout, spring onions, fresh herbs)

Siraji

Mount Kenya (spray carnations, large headed roses)

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2002: Homegrown increased its flower growing operations with the purchase of Sulmac Kenya, now Kingfisher farm; and also with the acquisition of Sunbird Flowers in South Africa, now Flamingo Flowers South Africa, a chrysanthemum farm near Johannesburg.

2005: Flamingo Flowers BV was set up in Holland to give the Group stronger links with Dutch growers and the auctions. Also in 2005 the fresh produce business moved to new premises in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

2007: Flamingo Holdings was acquired by James Finlay Ltd. Following a successful period which saw a significant period of capital investment under the ownership of JFL, the business was sold to Sun Capital in November, 2015 and reverted to using the name Flamingo Horticulture in January, 2016.

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Our entire process is organised around ensuring absolute quality with a dedicated team responsible for systematic quality checks at every stage of the manufacturing process.

The Company is a leader in investing in cutting-edge technologies such as sevenlayer extrusion & in-line laser scribing.

The Company has been BRC accredited for more than five years with an excellent track record of working with both African and European retailers. We have the experience and knowledge of fresh food and commercial packaging standards.

The Company has its own in-house research laboratory with dedicated research personnel. We specialise in developing bespoke, shelf-life extension solutions for fresh food.

The Company’s long-term partnership with Flamingo Horticulture has inspired its growth and allows constant improvement of the Company’s state of art packing technology.

We are proud to be associated with Flamingo Horticulture.

PACKAGING INDUSTRIES LIMITED info@pil.co.ke | pil.co.ke +254 722206966 +254 700 755 745 | +254 701 745 745 01 Nadume Road, Off Sekondi Road, Off Lunga Lunga Road Industrial Area, Nairobi, P.O. Box 48811, 00100 G.P.O, Nairobi - Kenya

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What next?

With a present day reputation as a leader across process innovation, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and farm practice parameters, Flamingo’s success is owed to a culture of continuous improvement, drive and ambition according to Ralling, who further elaborates on the latter as being not just a key customer requirement, but also crucial to the development of the Company inhouse.

Spanning areas of staff retention, skills development, education and progressive experience, ambition isn’t just a buzzword driven by management but a cultural staple within the confines of Flamingo’s farms.

“This philosophy has seen the development of increased rose production, innovative vegetable production - both in terms of product and harvesting processes - and the constant development of IPM solutions with our sister Company, Dudutech,” the Managing Director says.

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EAST AFRICAN PACKAGING INDUSTRIES LTD

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ast African Packaging Industries Ltd (EAPI) was established in 1959 in Nairobi, Kenya. Since then the Company has been one of the leading manufacturers of products made out of corrugated cardboard.

To keep up with the demands of modern packaging and in order to maintain service levels of the ever increasing volumes of our customer base, the Company is investing heavily in upgrading their machinery – including state-of-the-art multi-colour printing presses.

These investments will help to service one of our major long-term customers and one of the world leaders in horticulture, Flamingo Horticulture Kenya Ltd.

On the continuous improvement front, the Company has developed value-added vegetable products which have enabled entry into new European markets while further strengthening its influence across Flamingo’s UK retail base.

On the flower production side, the Company has developed seasonal and bulb crops to support its extensive rose offering, and is now developing valueadded solutions to extend its product portfolio in Kenya; all with specific industry and consumer trends having been monitored and taken into account.

“Our sister companies and partner customers in overseas markets continually provide key market and trend data to this end,” elaborates Ralling. “With a diverse product portfolio we need to not only be aware of market trends, but also pivotal product relationships in terms of opportunity and performance.

“We use hard data as well as focus groups and customer polling to understand not only how our products are received but also the key question of ‘what next?’”

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www.eapi.co.ke

DUMMEN ORANGE

With a diverse product portfolio we need to not only be aware of market trends, but also pivotal product relationships

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s a leading company in the breeding and development of cut flowers, potted plants, annuals, perennials, succulents and bulbs, Dümmen Orange represents a legacy of floricultural excellence more than a century in the making, providing the largest selection of superior flowers and plants on earth.

By uniting the world’s top breeders under one distinctive brand, we blend traditional techniques and emerging technologies.

Globally accessible and locally embedded, the Company continues to be at the forefront of the industry while bringing stability and opportunity to our partners and associates worldwide.

www.dummenorange.com

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for you Uniting the world through the language of flowers

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Miss Piggy+

Red Dragon

Pink Arrow

Smiley

dummenorange.com

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Behind every innovation is a series of internal enhancements

A responsibility to grow

Naturally, behind every innovation, diversification and expansion is a series of behind the scenes internal enhancements that keep Flamingo ahead of the industry curve, compounded by the business strength to carry out sizable capital investments when required.

Consequently, its vegetable business has in recent times benefitted from extensive investment into harvest and product handling, focused primarily around automation and quality improvements.

Ralling adds: “Meanwhile, within our flower business, we continue to improve product handling and supply chain technologies around speed, safety, cold storage, and ultimately, product vase-life. We are also undertaking a rose expansion project to increase production by more than 50 percent in the coming two years.

“Our herb business is also a key

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...within our flower business, we continue to improve product handling and supply chain technologies

value-adding opportunity and we are constantly trialling shelf-ready solutions for export markets.”

And driving these opportunities is an equally refined and thoughtthrough workforce that represents the culmination of decades of hard work and status improvements to make Flamingo the employer of choice that it is today.

Such loyalty from its employees is subsequently repaid through the development of Kenyan nationals on a local level, and the Company is very proud of this developmental philosophy which is now being seen across regional operations and senior management roles.

“As a business we are committed to education and training across our business and that commitment continues to yield talented and ambitious team members which we have a responsibility to grow and develop,” Ralling continues.

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Elgon Kenya are happy to be associated with Flamingo Horticulture!

On the theme of localisation and external enrichment, Flamingo is also “blessed with a supply base that shares many of our principles, and is working just as hard to develop Kenyan supply channels and capability that supports a proud Kenyan exporter”, he adds. “Continual dialog with our stakeholders ensures that where we can support them we will, and where we think opportunities exist we have a responsibility to engage.”

Building a future Flamingo Horticulture’s overall farming footprint at present naturally lends itself to geographical footprint growth and sustainable progression into the future which, in turn, lends itself to an ever-broadening customer base as well.

Its key UK retail market remains an important string in the Flamingo bow, but is now complemented in force by export markets stretching from the US to Australia.

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And between the two, a clear focus of late has been on developing its crucial European markets even more concertedly via a combination of product innovation, cost effectiveness, and enhanced collaboration with customers to better understand the respective markets.

Improvement isn’t just tailored towards capital gains though, with the business every bit as invested in wider societal evolution as well, as epitomised by its CSR agenda supported by both shareholders and aforementioned customers.

“We are delighted to engage in a number of community projects including educational development, environmental work to support natural habitats and fragile eco systems, and healthcare projects,” Ralling affirms.

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Reaping the benefits of successful collaboration

“Flamingo has a long history of being both a responsible employer and neighbour within the communities we operate. Working with our retail customers we are also able to provide

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further impetus around Fairtrade projects and international aid and development efforts.”

Expectations for the future heavily feature enhanced CSR involvement, compounding its core efforts which revolve around business growth and farming excellence.

Ralling concludes: “We are building a future that continues to deliver to all stakeholders, and that is sustainable through all aspects of our business; be those financial, social, environmental, and technological.

“Overall we would like to be seen as a large farming and export operation, with great people, great customers, and a future that we are able to shape in the context of increasingly tough trading conditions, but ultimately rewarding markets.”

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Flamingo Horticulture Kenya Limited Watermark Business Park, Bay Court Ndege Road, off Langata Road PO Box 10222, Nairobi 00400, Kenya info.kenya@flamingo.net

www.flamingo.net

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