Zentoo, Kwekerij Wouters and Buijnink Portugal scoop Dutch Flower Awards 2022

Dutch Flower Group (DFG) hosted its annual Dutch Flower Awards ceremony at Trade Fair Aalsmeer on Thursday, 10 November 2022, recognising all of the hard work of DFG’s suppliers. This year’s winners are Chrysanthemum grower Zentoo from Honselersdijk, bedding plant grower Wouters from Ens, and cut foliage producer Buijnink Internacional from Odemira, Portugal.

Nine cut flower and ornamental plant growers battled it out to win DFG’s prestigious Dutch Flower Award, which identifies successful and growing companies. Now in its 20th year, the prestigious accolade recognises hard-working, outstanding horticultural entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, product quality, supply chain management and commitment to sustainability efforts. All candidates are suppliers with whom the Dutch Flower Group has a tried and tested relationship.

In the category Cut Flowers, the winner was Chrysanthemum grower Zentoo. Established in 2007, Zentoo is an alliance of 15 growers who sell their blooms under the Zentoo brand. By combining their efforts, Zentoo growers can offer a full range of spray Chrysanthemums, disbuds, and Santinis.

In the Ornamental Plant category, the award went to Kwekerij Wouters. Situated over three different sites in Ens and Ijsselmuiden, Wouters is one of Europe’s largest suppliers of bedding plants to retail customers. The family-owned business grows more than 20 million plants annually in bedding packs, pots, hanging baskets and planters.

Portugal-based Buijnink Internacional scooped up the award in the category of International Grower. Buijnink International began in 2008 and operates from a site in Odemira in southwest Portugal. The family-run business grows an extensive range of cut foliage, including Eucalyptus, Pittosporum, Pinus, Arbutus, Arunda and Cortidaria. The company’s aim is to reduce its impact on the environment as much as possible, providing premium quality cut foliage. The company has earned MPS Socially Qualified, MPS GAP, GLOBALG.A.P., GLOBALG.A.P. GRASP AND FSC certifications.

Winning the Preferred Partner Award was software supplier Axians. Over the past years, Axians has implemented retail ERP systems.

DFG’s Preferred Partner Award was created in 2015 in addition to the Dutch Flower Awards. It recognises supply chain partners for the dedication and forward-looking perspective they use in working together with DFG.

In his speech, DFG CEO Jan van Dam said that ‘Customer Driven’ – the theme of this year’s Dutch Flower Awards- will be a key driver in the years to come acknowledging the many challenges throughout the supply chain due to the rising costs of energy, materials and logistics, as well as the availability of flowers and plants. He said, “Strong and valuable partnerships are important in these challenging times to create viable opportunities for the future.”

DFG expects 2022 revenues to be comparable with 2020. For next year, DFG foresees major challenges within the supply chain due to the rising costs of energy, materials (due to higher commodity prices), logistics, and the availability of flowers and plants.

The Dutch Flower Group (DFG) is a globally acting group of trading companies. Together they lead the import, export, trade and market development of cut flowers, bouquets, cut foliage and plants. They supply to specialist traders (florists) via wholesalers and multiple retailers (supermarkets, DIY stores and garden centres). Together with its 5,000 employees, Dutch Flower Group achieved a turnover of €2 billion in 2021, exporting to 100 countries worldwide.

For more information, visit www.dfg.nl

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