Flora Holland, a well-known flower auction, considers opening an affiliate in Russia. “We had initial talks with representatives of Russian companies at the initiative of Flora Holland back three years ago,” he said. “Now, following the claims from Rosselkhoznadzor to flowers from Holland and following the direct contacts from Russian companies towards other countries supplying flowers, the talks have resumed.”
The thing is that Holland exports not only own products – tulips and chrysanthemums, but also re-exports flowers grown in other EU countries and in Ecuador via the world’s biggest auction – Flora Holland.
The Russian trade representative said some traders had quit Flora Holland due to the claims from the Russian agricultural watchdog. Thus, Russian companies, which used to work with Flora Holland, began to establish direct contacts with suppliers in other countries. In August 2015, TASS reported Ecuador, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and some other countries had been discussing with the watchdog new logistics routes to deliver flowers to Russia bypassing the Netherlands.
Using a Russian-based representation, Flora Holland plans to trade first of all flowers supplied from third countries in order to avoid the limitations from Rosselkhoznadzor referring to import of Holland flowers. “In Russia, Flora Holland will cooperate with suppliers from other countries and will direct the flows via itself,” the trade representative said. “Holland wants to keep its share in Russia’s flower business by using products grown in other countries.” He said a decision on future of the Holland flower business in Russia is due before the year end.