Dutch Flower Group to acquire DSV Panalpina’s Airflo unit

Author: Ron van der Ploeg

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, AALSMEER, Netherlands: On Friday 8 May Dutch Flower Group (DFG), the world’s largest group of floral wholesale companies, announced it has agreed to buy DSV Panalpina’s Airflo unit, a specialised forwarder of flowers and vegetables. The deal is pending for approval by Kenyan and Dutch competition regulators.

Denmark-based DSV Panalpina A/S currently owns the majority share of Panalpina Airflo logistics companies.

The activities of Airflo are focused on handling and logistic services of perishable products by air, such as cut flowers and vegetables.

DFG is delighted to have the opportunity to acquire all the shares of Airflo. The purpose is to leverage DFG’s industry expertise to strengthen the supply chain from Africa further. It will deliver superior cool chain management for DFG’s own, as well as existing Airflo customers’ imports of fresh cut flowers and other perishable products from Kenya.

Airflo will maintain its organisational structure with Pim de Wit serving as the company’s general manager Airflo in The Netherlands and Peter Verner Kristensen as managing director Airflo Ltd in Kenya.

DSV Panalpina is the world’s fourth-largest freight forwarder.  Last month, the company announced it would cut 3,000 jobs to mitigate the negative impact of the new coronavirus on global trade. The global freight industry has been hard-hit by uncertain demand and crews’ health concerns following the virus outbreak.

Terms of the transaction, that is expected to close in the second half of 2020, were not disclosed.

At FloraCulture International, our upright and honest international editorial team are proud to bring you trustworthy, factual and relevant reporting about the global ornamental horticulture industry. The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the horticultural sector is enormous. To keep up-to-date with the news that’s affecting us all, become a subscriber to our FREE newsletter and digital magazine.

↑ Back to top