Last Monday, DIY stores and garden centres reopened throughout Germany. From this week, the florists will also be added and the German market, as far as it concerns bringing plants and consumers together, will be fully operational again.
That is definitely good news for Emsflower. This vegetable and bedding plant grower, one of the largest in Europe, is located near Enschede on the German side of the border, and also has its own garden centre. When asked about the state of affairs and the current sales, Tom Kuipers, who runs the company together with his father, is reasonably satisfied. "It is moving," as he summarizes it concisely. “Almost everything is being shipped out. We have had a good bedding plant season and in the end the tail of the season determines whether you have earned something. Whether that is the case remains to be seen.”
The large greenhouse complex of Emsflower captured out of the air. 'Hello Niedersachsen' recently made a nice video report of the company, in which Tom is also speaking extensively.
Already forgotten
The social crisis that we are having now and the consequences that this will entail in the slightly longer term are only very partially known. That is why, Kuiper continues, you simply cannot say yet where it will all end. “When the corona crisis started a few weeks ago, we also stopped for a while. The last violets, you would almost forget, had to be discarded because we couldn't find a buyer for them. So we really did suffer some damage, but if it does not deteriorate again, I expect, as a company, we will come out reasonably well.”
Split
Tom therefore does not expect to have to apply for help from the government. However, what the grower will have in mind is the knowledge that the company is located in both Dutch and German spheres of influence. This can have advantages, but also disadvantages. “Again, it doesn't matter now, because we expect to have enough reserves to get through this time well. But if the need would arise, I think we could easily be neither here nor there. It is difficult to claim certain funds here, because we are financed by a Dutch bank.”
Labour disruption
Emsflower runs many actions, which then are executed as planned. Due to all the market disruption, they are still lagging behind somewhat, but they are now gradually catching up. The bedding plants has largely been completed again, the first tomatoes are already being harvested again, the last departments are now in planting phase. The first vegetable sales, which take place entirely in the regional market, were also good. “A stumbling block currently is labour. That's a little tight right now. Planning is very difficult, especially because people from abroad cannot or are not allowed to come. Moreover, everything is constantly changing.”
Garden centre open again
Perhaps the most sensitive blow was the closure of our own garden centre. It was closed for a few weeks, “and closing really meant closing. Then costs will accumulate fast, yes”, concludes Tom. “Fortunately, we are now open again and luckily the people are happy to come, they are not afraid. There are fewer customers in the store, but they make more purchases.”
For more information:
Emsflower
Carl-von-Linné-Str. 1
48488 Emsbüren
Germany
E: [email protected]
www.emsflower.nl
