During the first NBCC North Sea Neighbours Dinner, Dutch Flower Group and myself got a huge surprise.
Perhaps you remember I wrote about the importance of collaboration in my previous column. Well, on the evening of the 11th of July, we were presented with the NBCC Stronger Together Award in appreciation of our long-standing efforts on the British market.
The jury report summarised it as follows: ’Dutch Flower Group sets an example for others with the unique way in which they work together with different sectors, companies and governments.’ The jury also praised DFG companies in England and the Netherlands for their sustainable collaboration with leading large-scale retailers, supermarket chains and wholesale stores. Our chain-wide approach, which includes our work with growers, suppliers and retailers, was mentioned in the jury report too.
Our intensive Brexit preparations were discussed in the presence of top managers of large Dutch and English companies, as well as prominent politicians, including the British minister of International Trade, Liam Fox, and Dutch minister Sigrid Kaag. We’ve been working closely together with the government in the so-called Brexit Buddies programme, to help entrepreneurs with this complex process.
I’ve got to say I was completely surprised and absolutely delighted when we were announced the winner of the award. When you’re surrounded by big names such as Tony Chocolonely, Port of Rotterdam, Van Oord and Dutch Customs Administration, this is a great achievement for Dutch Flower Group and their employees, as well as for the floriculture sector as a whole. I hope the award will contribute to a more positive image of the floriculture sector on the labour market. It is such a great dynamic industry with many enthusiastic people and, in my opinion, the most colourful products in the world. Something worth promoting.
I’d like to dedicate the Stronger Together Award to all our clients in the Netherlands and abroad, our growers, our partners and all stakeholders in the floriculture sector who will be joining us in the next growth phase. May the award be a symbol for our daily efforts which, as far as I’m concerned, will continue to be characterised by transparent collaboration.
Big congratulations to all!
Marco van Zijverden
CEO Dutch Flower Group
