Germany: Dehne Topfpflanzen branching out in the greenhouse and online

Dehne Topfpflanzen can look back to a long history and has been closely linked to the small East Frisian town of Wiesmoor from the very beginning. In 1966, Lars Dehne's parents, the master gardeners Ilse and Siegfried Dehne, founded a nursery with a cultivation area of around one hectare. In the following years, the business expanded to four divisions at three locations, thanks to the Dehne family's effort and commitment.

Growth and personal dedication
With around 75 employees, a glasshouse area of 7.5 hectares, its own stock plant and seedling cultivation, Dehne Topfpflanzen GmbH & Co. KG has become one of the most productive and modern companies in Germany. It produces up to ten million potted plants each year and sells them as finished retail and wholesale products on a national scale and in neighbouring countries. The company has constantly expanded its extensive range of plants over the past years. Interior products include various flowering indoor plants and numerous garden, bedding and balcony plants. Thanks to the latest production processes and techniques, such as the mobile table system, the fully automated potting machine or the planting robot, which can handle up to 6,000 plants per hour, processes can be systematically controlled and constantly improved.

Keeping sustainability in focus
Sustainability also plays an important role for the company. About four years ago, a biomass power plant was built in collaboration with two partners. It supplies the entire gardeners' settlement with waste heat via a 12 km long pipe network. The company's own biogas plant furthermore ensures that around 95% of the total heat demand come from renewable resources.

Online portal
To improve customer orientation, Lars Dehne had already developed the early idea of implementing a search engine and business directory, completely dedicated to horticulture. With the help of a professional editor, Lars Dehne's online portal gabot.de has now become one of the leading internet portals. Another great idea by Dehne: the company grants a durability guarantee of four weeks on premium products. In the unlikely event of a claim, customers receive a new plant by post in the shortest possible time – free of charge, of course.

Partnership with Pöppelmann
“Even when large quantities are produced, quality should never be compromised”, says Lars Dehne. Since the 1970s, the Dehne family has relied on Pöppelmann TEKU: most of the plant pots we use are produced by the family business from Lohne. Even the "Pink Kisses" miniature carnations produced by Dehne are sold in TEKU plant pots. These coloured pots are real eye-catchers when it comes to sales. Meanwhile, both companies share a long-term partnership based on trust.

For more information:
Pöppelmann GmbH & Co. KG
T: +49 4442 982-1605 or
E: teku@poeppelmann.com
www.poeppelmann.com

Publication date: Thu 6 Oct 2016