With Valentine's Day, the cut flower industry mastered a seasonal highlight. Now is the time for further seasonal planning and thinking about the expansion of the supplier network. The Import Promotion Desk (IPD), together with its partner "Kenya Flower Council", is inviting buyers to Kenya from June 6 to 10 for a buyers' trip. While Kenya has a long tradition as a flower country, usually only the large farms are internationally known. IPD takes a different approach: the import promotion initiative works with small and medium-sized enterprises that have settled away from the well-known growing areas, around Lake Naivasha, Mount Kenya, or Nakuru. The farms have gained many years of experience in the production of cut flowers and produce high-quality roses, and summer flowers. The programme of the buyers' trip also includes a visit to IFTEX, the Kenyan trade fair for cut flowers.
During the buying mission in June, the importers will visit at least ten farms that the IPD experts have visited and carefully screened in advance. This way, important criteria such as high quality, minimum quantities, and good logistics via Nairobi airport are ensured. In addition, the farms are owner-managed, flexible, and willing to develop new and exclusive products with their European trading partners and also to meet special requirements, e.g. for packaging, products, and delivery times. "The companies are excellent partners for direct trade and can optimally expand the supplier network", says Dr Andreas Gemählich, IPD expert for Sourcing + Markets for cut flowers. "We know the companies in Kenya and can thus establish personal contact very quickly. Visiting the farms on the buyers' trip is also a chance to get to know cut flower cultivation and quality management on site, as well as the people behind it."
For more information:
Andreas Gemaehlich
IPD Expert Sourcing + Markets
Import Promotion Desk
gemaehlich@importpromotiondesk.de
www.importpromotiondesk.de