Some big changes are taking place at Royal FloraHolland this year. One of them is the transition to central auctioning of roses. Rose auctioneer Erik Wassenaar explains in the column below why this process is a huge job in more ways than one.
The run-up to November 1 was very noticeable. We saw an overall upward trend in pricing, although it varied from one product to the next. For instance, alstroemerias, chrysanthemums, hydrangeas, lilies, and gerberas ran well, but amaryllises and roses held up only moderately. We also see the same picture among plants.
There was a small upturn among roses, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. The supply of roses was ample, which made it especially difficult for the shorter lengths. Hopefully, the price level will recover soon, although November is always a difficult rose month.
Central auctioning
The demand for more concentrated auctioning has been around for several years. Central auctioning is the aggregation of auction clocks by product group across locations. By bringing together supply and demand, we encourage optimal pricing at the lowest possible cost. Since last year, the first central clock C06 (C stands for central) for alstroemeria, strelitzia, cymbidium, cut anthurium, phalaenopsis, and other cut orchids has existed. The offerings from Naaldwijk and Aalsmeer will be auctioned here. From November 16, this will be expanded to include the offerings from Rijnsburg.
Central auctioning of roses: a huge job
From FPC Roos, the demand for centrally auctioning roses has existed for several years. I myself thought: we'll do that. But it turned out to be an enormous job with a lot of technical, commercial, and organizational dependencies.
From November 30, the auctioning of roses will move from seven local clocks to four central clocks. In terms of auction technology, the supply and purchasing power of Aalsmeer, Naaldwijk, and Rijnsburg will be bundled, and we will, for instance, auction the rose Red Naomi on just one clock instead of three local clocks. Logistically, these flows still remain separate. So suppliers can continue to supply where they always did.
Apart from that, quite a lot will change. For instance, the auction clock numbers will change, rose auction groups have been added at Naaldwijk and Rijnsburg according to the Aalsmeer schedule, and other auction groups than roses will move to other clocks. Because at Naaldwijk and Rijnsburg, there are more than just roses on one clock. The local auction schedules also change. If you remove roses from a clock, the other products from that clock do have to keep a position within the auction schedules. In addition, types of roses shift within the rose auction groups. All in all, it is a huge project that we, as (rose) auctioneers, put all the necessary time and energy into.
November 30 is the day
But we are not there yet. As mentioned, November 30 is the day the roses will be auctioned off in a truly centralized manner. This will not take place in one big bang but in steps. The first step was on November 2 with the equalization of the rose auction groups.
Personally, I find it an exciting process, but I like it! Buyers and growers: be extra alert in the coming month because a lot is changing. At Trade Fair Aalsmeer, auctioneers will also be present at the Royal FloraHolland stand to answer any questions. You are most welcome!
In the next auctioneer column, we will keep you updated on the progress of centrally auctioned roses. Do you have any questions about the layout of the auction groups, the clock layout, or anything else? Click here for all information on central auctioning. Is your question not listed here? Please contact the Customer Contact Centre on +31 88 789 89 89.