Once again, the French magazine 'Jardineries' has awarded Floréac the Trophée d'Or 2022 for best supplier of houseplants and cut flowers. For the third year in a row, the East Flanders family business thus retains its podium position. "This award shows that our efforts in recent years are clearly paying off," said Guillaume Bianco and Benoit Strauven, respectively, Key Account Manager and CEO at Floréac.
CEO of Floréac Benoit Strauven (on the right in the photo) receiving the prize
Continuing on this path
"We thank our customers for their trust. It motivates us to further deepen the cooperation with our partners. What's more, we want to meet their requirements even better and be innovative at the same time," says Guillaume Bianco.
Collaboration, innovation, and service: it is no coincidence that the professional jury awarded Floréac ten out of ten for these three pillars.
Everything can always be improved
Bianco and Strauven illustrate their efforts with a few examples. "We recently started planning extra delivery days for the French market. Mainly to spread the logistical flows a little. Furthermore, we continue to focus thoroughly on communication. Not only to support our customers in their choice but also to provide inspiration for the presentation in the shop. Our webshop remains an important tool for this. The staff in the shop can find the right information about our wide range of products in no time. But this tool also saves our customers time on the administrative side. In addition, our magazine remains a source of inspiration. Through all these efforts, we want to unburden our customers and share our knowledge about innovative developments and trends."
People are the key
Sustainability was already chiseled into Floréac's DNA, but in the past year, the company has gone one step further. For several months now, Floréac has been a member of the FSI (Floriculture Sustainability Initiative). The goal is to work with certified growers on at least 90% ecologically sustainable products by 2025 in order to reduce their footprint.
That pursuit of sustainability is also recognizable on the work floor. Since Corona, teleworking has definitely acquired a place in the corporate culture. Home and work are more in balance, and this progressive position is seen as a plus by the employees. "We are aware of our responsibility as a company to contribute to a better world. People are our key. Without them, there is no growth," Bianco emphasizes.
Happiness in uncertain times
What does the future hold? "The context has changed," says Strauven. "It is impossible to look through a crystal ball today and predict what 2022 will bring. The whole sector is facing a challenge. We must continue to convince consumers of the benefits of plants in the garden, on the terrace, on the balcony, in the home, and on the plate. But what it essentially comes down to is bringing a bit of happiness to people every day with our producers."
About Floréac
Floréac has more than 60 years of horticultural experience under its belt. The supplier offers a wide range of pot plants for specialist retailers such as garden centers and DIY stores. Floréac serves about 7,000 sales points in 25 countries through two distribution sites, namely in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Together with Royal Lemkes, Floréac launched 'Plantify Partners Europe' (PPE) in 2020. As the first Plantify partners, they strive for a powerful European network of family companies in the green sector. As experts in the various international production areas, they want to accelerate sustainability.
With an annual turnover of approximately 110 million euros and more than 170 employees, they belong to the European top in ornamental plant cultivation.
For more information:
Floréac 
www.floreac.com